Steeling a
Dream
Part 1: Diamonds of Steele
Part 1: Diamonds of Steele
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Steele
Holting On
Chapter 5 Revelations
The next morning, the Steeles filled Mildred in on the extent of Daniel’s holdings. With glee, the new private investigator agreed to tour the properties and look into the various accounts dotted all over Europe. Remington made an appointment with the law firm upstairs to write a Power of Attorney, and Laura booked Mildred a flight for the following Saturday. In the meantime, Mildred arranged for a temp agency to provide the office with secretarial services for the next four weeks.
On Wednesday, a young man by the name of Ian Connelly arrived. Dark-eyed with white-blonde hair, he nervously introduced himself to the team. Remington eyed the young man suspiciously, but Laura smiled warmly and welcomed him in.
At three on Thursday, Mildred all but danced out of the office to pack and call the Dragon Ladies to tell them the good news. Her bowling team would just have to do without her for a few weeks. Ian nervously watched her go. When the phone rang, he punched at it with wild eyes before settling in as he took messages and began transferring calls.
At five, Remington dismissed the younger man, then strolled over and locked the front door. With casual grace, he retrieved Laura and drew her into his office, tugging off his tie as he did so. When she closed the door with a smile, he locked it behind her and queried, “You know what’s going to happen now?”
She toyed with his buttons. “I can guess.” He lifted her and deposited her onto his spotless desk, sliding her skirt up in the process.
“I am going to spend the next thirty days fulfilling every fantasy I’ve ever entertained involving you and this office.”
“On one condition.” Laura tipped up his chin.
“What’s that?”
“We fulfill mine too.” She ran a stocking-clad foot inside his trouser leg.
“I think we can manage all that.” He pressed her against the desk and began to loosen her buttons,
exposing all those pretty freckles in broad daylight.
On Friday, Laura seemed thoroughly distracted but remembered to give Mildred the company credit card for the trip.
“Where’s Mr. Steele?” the new private investigator asked.
“Mildred, it’s only nine in the morning. He’s never in this early. Oh, I’m going to be leaving in just a little bit. I’m expecting family today.”
“But what about your appointments?”
“Mr. Steele can handle them.” Laura disappeared into her office. At ten-thirty, Remington opened the door as she waved Mildred good-bye. “Have fun. By the time you get back in a month, we’ll be ready to move the offices.”
“Are you sure you kids can do without me?” Mildred wanted to know.
“No, but since you covered for us, I think we will do our best to do the same for you.” Laura slid past Remington. “Bye.” She gave her husband a quick peck on the cheek. “See you--” The door slammed, cutting off her sentence.
He started to go after her, but Mildred reminded him he had a client waiting in his office. Before he opened his door, he turned to Mildred, “Ah, did Laura seem distracted today?”
“Sure, Boss. Said something about her family.”
“Ah, her mother, of course. Reception plans, I imagine,” he scowled as he opened his door, then replaced his expression with a winning smile for the waiting client.
Ian and Mildred exchanged shrugs.
For the next week and a half, Ian took plenty of messages while the couple packed up their respective apartments and moved into their new penthouse. Amid smiles and squabbles, the two meshed their possessions and shopped for new ones to finish out their home. Remington refused to let Laura have anything to do with the kitchen, and she insisted he stay out of their new home office while she outfitted it to her heart’s content.
With a touch of sadness, Laura strolled around her empty loft. “I’m going to miss this place. It was fun creating it out of nothing. And it was mine.” Remington stroked her shoulders and arms, allowing her to lean back into his embrace, saying nothing, but understanding the sensation. Earlier that day, he felt somewhat the same when he closed the door to his flat. Eventually, she stopped reminiscing and they turned to leave. “I can’t quite get used to the idea that we’ll be landlords though.” He had insisted that they purchase both properties and lease them out.
“The management company will take care of them for us. All we have to do is check in from time to time to make certain they do an excellent job. You’ll like it, and we’ll make a bit of the blunt while we’re at it. Another nut, you might say.” He enjoyed the subtle jab while Laura wrinkled her nose at him.
*****
Eventually, Laura’s curiosity got the best of her, and she pulled up the agency’s books on Mildred’s computer while Ian was out to lunch. Each month, Mildred presented an agency cash flow statement and a balance sheet to her. After the first year or so, she had become quite complacent, glancing only at the bottom line and spot-checking Remington’s expenses. Mentally berating herself for her laziness, she pulled out the most recent month’s records and poured over them in detail. Then she pulled out a month’s worth of records from the year before. And the one before that.
For the past three years, Remington drew only a reasonable salary, commiserate with what any relatively experienced private investigator would expect to earn. Laura could find no expenses at all associated with his flat or personal lifestyle. Oh, occasionally a mysterious lump sum of cash was withdrawn, but it was always replaced within a matter of days or weeks. She imagined Mildred had a handy explanation, but at least one of these withdrawals coincided with a boat she knew her husband had been determined to buy--and the funds were replaced days later.
Engrossed in the files, she didn’t notice Remington stepping up behind her. He watched in silence as she interpreted the agency accounts. She hesitated and then searched the computer for his records. When she found them, her fingers stilled on the keyboard as she discovered her conscience would not allow her to invade his privacy by opening the documents. Laura moved her hand to the function key that would close the screen.
She jumped violently when Remington laid his hand over hers. He pressed her fingers in the sequence that opened his files. “It’s all right, Laura. You have a right to know.” He eased around to sit on the desk next to her.
She reddened, then paled, as his portfolio popped up on the screen. Properties, bank accounts, and various financial investments covered several pages.
“Mildred gives me a balance sheet every month just as she does you.”
Laura stared dumbly at the screen. Not once in the time she knew him had she entertained the thought that Remington was privately wealthy.
He couldn’t stop the huge grin. For months, he'd had waited for the perfect moment to surprise her. “I’m quite disappointed in you, Laura. For a detective, it seems that you’ve missed a clue here and there.”
“My piano?” She referred to the black baby grand he gave her after her house blew up. She'd never figured out how he paid for it, and quite frankly, didn’t want to know. It was enough that he had given it to her.
“Of course.”
His wife slowly leaned back in the chair, still staring at the screen. “It’s ironic, you know,” she said with reluctance, “all these years I’ve accused you of arrogance when I was the truly arrogant one. I’ve held my agency and the checkbook over your head. You didn’t need either one.” Shaking her head slightly, her eyes dropped to stare at her hands still resting on the keyboard. She tapped the correct function key and shut down the file.
Remington touched her cheek. “The way I see it, we’re evenly balanced, as it should be. You’ve your agency, and I’ve my accounts. I’m glad to come to you, not with my hat in hand looking for a handout, but as a husband with something to offer you.”
Laura mulled over that declaration for a moment, finding it surprisingly palatable. “I’ll take it as a measure of our trust in each other that neither of us thought about a prenuptial agreement before we tied the knot.”
“Never even a notion, darling.” He pulled her in for a searing kiss. “That’s what was on my mind.”
She returned it with heated fervor. “Mmmm, I’ll claim that rain check tonight. In the meantime, I imagine at least one of your bank accounts can take me to lunch.” She quirked her mouth in a smile.
Remington pressed his lips to hers one last time and escorted her out of the office. “I imagine it will.”
Over the next few months, Remington Steele Investigations and Mr. and Mrs. Steele each made numerous and considerable adjustments to their current situation. Mildred returned after the first four weeks with glowing praise for Daniel’s properties and detailed information about the portfolio he left scattered all over Europe.
Remington and Mildred closeted themselves for hours as they consolidated and reallocated the assets he inherited with his own. Unbeknownst to his wife, he retitled quite a bit into her name and several others into joint accounts. He was a touch too European not to hand over some substantial properties and assets as a bridal settlement. He considered the agency her dowry, a fact he was sure his liberated wife would find an insult, so he declined to mention it.
Laura peeked in from time to time but stayed busy with the final renovations on the new office suite. A week after Mildred returned, they began moving operations upstairs. Five days of four people stepping all over each other in three offices had became a bit much to bear, and they were all happy to relocate to bigger quarters.
During the move, Laura decided to keep Ian on full-time. The young man proved himself a solid employee by soothing clients and keeping the internal operations running smoothly. He had a Midwestern friendliness about him combined with pure California style that was quite appealing. Most importantly, he performed with the high level of professionalism Laura demanded.
She watched her husband to see how he adjusted to having Ian, another man, in the office. Remington and Murphy had been extremely competitive with Laura at the center of their difficulties. But Ian treated Laura with the utmost of respect and demonstrated no interest in her whatsoever. He was much enamored with his various girlfriends near his own age.
Remington only tolerated Ian at first, and then began treating the new employee as a younger brother, in need of advice and caution, often unlooked for. Ian was still quite intimidated by Mr. Steele, but they eventually established a working relationship.
Relieved of the secretarial duties of the agency, Mildred reveled in her new status as a full-fledged private investigator and dove into the work as if born to it. She had a real knack for uncovering “white-collar” crimes, and several small companies had already placed her on retainer to periodically review their books. A number of divorce attorneys kept her number on speed dial whenever extensive assets were involved or suspected.
With his brand-new private investigator’s license in hand, Remington groused about the expanded responsibilities of the security side of the firm but, with his usual charm, executed them with finesse and excellence.
Laura delicately managed the three of them and reserved the most complex of cases for herself. She unabashedly pulled in Mildred and Remington whenever necessary to their mutual delight. In case after case, the team solved thorny, interesting and often dangerous mysteries.
There was a token attempt by Laura to establish a policy about sex in the new office, but Remington managed to change her mind. Mildred and Ian made up their own rule about firmly knocking on any closed doors or buzzing the Steeles via the phone before entering one of their offices.
Three months after their return from Ireland, the Steeles celebrated the convalidation of their marriage at the Christ the King Catholic Church, found just down the street from their Rossmore Avenue penthouse. As they walked down the aisle together, each of them delighted to see the other wearing the same clothes from their wedding in Ireland--Laura in white Irish lace and Remington in his black tuxedo. The priest gave a blessing as they renewed their vows again.
He whispered to her, “Third time’s the charm, eh?”
She hid a small smile. “Just making sure you stick around.”
Abigail's beautiful reception at a nearby luxury hotel surpassed all expectations. A spattering of good clients, Bernice and her husband, a couple of Laura’s old roommates with their spouses and two of Remington’s good friends attended the celebration. Laura’s entire family, including an aunt and uncle she hadn’t seen in ages, came as well. The newly married Murphy and Kathleen Michaels arrived from Denver with a gleam in their eyes. The couple just found out they were expecting twins, and Kate’s tummy had already begun to round.
Of course, Mildred wouldn’t miss this for the world; she stood in for Remington’s family, and he wouldn’t have had it any other way. The tender way he kissed her cheek and hugged her for a long moment let her know how precious she was to him. She patted him on the side of his face and gave him a quick wink in return.
After dinner and many toasts, the crowd began dancing to the sweet, romantic tunes Remington selected for the evening. He danced with Laura, of course, then Abigail, Mildred, Francis and Kate. Laura spun around the floor with Murphy, Donald, and Remington’s old friend, Monroe.
At Remington’s signal, the band struck up its last tune, and the lead singer announced the couple’s final dance together. Family and friends took to their seats as Remington led Laura to the center of the floor. In the sparkle of the dim lights, the incandescent couple danced to the Casablanca classic, “As Time Goes By.” He softly sang the words to her as he swayed and spun with her across the dance floor. At the end, he swirled her into a perfect dip. She pointed her toes, then curled them at the suddenly passionate kiss he gave her. A camera flashed in the background. He brought her up again to the applause of the crowd and twirled her one last time before leading her off the dance floor for a final sip of champagne.
In spite of the teasing Laura doled out, she loved Remington’s showmanship. He wasn’t afraid of the limelight and he relished bringing her into it. Just as she delighted in proving to him that he could be faithful, serious and worthy of love, he reveled in bringing out her wild side, full of flash and sass.
Dizzy with happiness and champagne, the Steeles made their exit to the cheers of the small crowd. They tumbled into the backseat of the limo, giggling madly. The loving that night was fabulous as befits a happy couple celebrating their marriage the third time around.
The picture-perfect dip-and-a-kiss photo graced the LA Tribune gossip column the next morning. The caption? “Steeling a Bride.”
Chapter 6 -- Citizen Steele
The next morning, the Steeles filled Mildred in on the extent of Daniel’s holdings. With glee, the new private investigator agreed to tour the properties and look into the various accounts dotted all over Europe. Remington made an appointment with the law firm upstairs to write a Power of Attorney, and Laura booked Mildred a flight for the following Saturday. In the meantime, Mildred arranged for a temp agency to provide the office with secretarial services for the next four weeks.
On Wednesday, a young man by the name of Ian Connelly arrived. Dark-eyed with white-blonde hair, he nervously introduced himself to the team. Remington eyed the young man suspiciously, but Laura smiled warmly and welcomed him in.
At three on Thursday, Mildred all but danced out of the office to pack and call the Dragon Ladies to tell them the good news. Her bowling team would just have to do without her for a few weeks. Ian nervously watched her go. When the phone rang, he punched at it with wild eyes before settling in as he took messages and began transferring calls.
At five, Remington dismissed the younger man, then strolled over and locked the front door. With casual grace, he retrieved Laura and drew her into his office, tugging off his tie as he did so. When she closed the door with a smile, he locked it behind her and queried, “You know what’s going to happen now?”
She toyed with his buttons. “I can guess.” He lifted her and deposited her onto his spotless desk, sliding her skirt up in the process.
“I am going to spend the next thirty days fulfilling every fantasy I’ve ever entertained involving you and this office.”
“On one condition.” Laura tipped up his chin.
“What’s that?”
“We fulfill mine too.” She ran a stocking-clad foot inside his trouser leg.
“I think we can manage all that.” He pressed her against the desk and began to loosen her buttons,
exposing all those pretty freckles in broad daylight.
On Friday, Laura seemed thoroughly distracted but remembered to give Mildred the company credit card for the trip.
“Where’s Mr. Steele?” the new private investigator asked.
“Mildred, it’s only nine in the morning. He’s never in this early. Oh, I’m going to be leaving in just a little bit. I’m expecting family today.”
“But what about your appointments?”
“Mr. Steele can handle them.” Laura disappeared into her office. At ten-thirty, Remington opened the door as she waved Mildred good-bye. “Have fun. By the time you get back in a month, we’ll be ready to move the offices.”
“Are you sure you kids can do without me?” Mildred wanted to know.
“No, but since you covered for us, I think we will do our best to do the same for you.” Laura slid past Remington. “Bye.” She gave her husband a quick peck on the cheek. “See you--” The door slammed, cutting off her sentence.
He started to go after her, but Mildred reminded him he had a client waiting in his office. Before he opened his door, he turned to Mildred, “Ah, did Laura seem distracted today?”
“Sure, Boss. Said something about her family.”
“Ah, her mother, of course. Reception plans, I imagine,” he scowled as he opened his door, then replaced his expression with a winning smile for the waiting client.
Ian and Mildred exchanged shrugs.
For the next week and a half, Ian took plenty of messages while the couple packed up their respective apartments and moved into their new penthouse. Amid smiles and squabbles, the two meshed their possessions and shopped for new ones to finish out their home. Remington refused to let Laura have anything to do with the kitchen, and she insisted he stay out of their new home office while she outfitted it to her heart’s content.
With a touch of sadness, Laura strolled around her empty loft. “I’m going to miss this place. It was fun creating it out of nothing. And it was mine.” Remington stroked her shoulders and arms, allowing her to lean back into his embrace, saying nothing, but understanding the sensation. Earlier that day, he felt somewhat the same when he closed the door to his flat. Eventually, she stopped reminiscing and they turned to leave. “I can’t quite get used to the idea that we’ll be landlords though.” He had insisted that they purchase both properties and lease them out.
“The management company will take care of them for us. All we have to do is check in from time to time to make certain they do an excellent job. You’ll like it, and we’ll make a bit of the blunt while we’re at it. Another nut, you might say.” He enjoyed the subtle jab while Laura wrinkled her nose at him.
*****
Eventually, Laura’s curiosity got the best of her, and she pulled up the agency’s books on Mildred’s computer while Ian was out to lunch. Each month, Mildred presented an agency cash flow statement and a balance sheet to her. After the first year or so, she had become quite complacent, glancing only at the bottom line and spot-checking Remington’s expenses. Mentally berating herself for her laziness, she pulled out the most recent month’s records and poured over them in detail. Then she pulled out a month’s worth of records from the year before. And the one before that.
For the past three years, Remington drew only a reasonable salary, commiserate with what any relatively experienced private investigator would expect to earn. Laura could find no expenses at all associated with his flat or personal lifestyle. Oh, occasionally a mysterious lump sum of cash was withdrawn, but it was always replaced within a matter of days or weeks. She imagined Mildred had a handy explanation, but at least one of these withdrawals coincided with a boat she knew her husband had been determined to buy--and the funds were replaced days later.
Engrossed in the files, she didn’t notice Remington stepping up behind her. He watched in silence as she interpreted the agency accounts. She hesitated and then searched the computer for his records. When she found them, her fingers stilled on the keyboard as she discovered her conscience would not allow her to invade his privacy by opening the documents. Laura moved her hand to the function key that would close the screen.
She jumped violently when Remington laid his hand over hers. He pressed her fingers in the sequence that opened his files. “It’s all right, Laura. You have a right to know.” He eased around to sit on the desk next to her.
She reddened, then paled, as his portfolio popped up on the screen. Properties, bank accounts, and various financial investments covered several pages.
“Mildred gives me a balance sheet every month just as she does you.”
Laura stared dumbly at the screen. Not once in the time she knew him had she entertained the thought that Remington was privately wealthy.
He couldn’t stop the huge grin. For months, he'd had waited for the perfect moment to surprise her. “I’m quite disappointed in you, Laura. For a detective, it seems that you’ve missed a clue here and there.”
“My piano?” She referred to the black baby grand he gave her after her house blew up. She'd never figured out how he paid for it, and quite frankly, didn’t want to know. It was enough that he had given it to her.
“Of course.”
His wife slowly leaned back in the chair, still staring at the screen. “It’s ironic, you know,” she said with reluctance, “all these years I’ve accused you of arrogance when I was the truly arrogant one. I’ve held my agency and the checkbook over your head. You didn’t need either one.” Shaking her head slightly, her eyes dropped to stare at her hands still resting on the keyboard. She tapped the correct function key and shut down the file.
Remington touched her cheek. “The way I see it, we’re evenly balanced, as it should be. You’ve your agency, and I’ve my accounts. I’m glad to come to you, not with my hat in hand looking for a handout, but as a husband with something to offer you.”
Laura mulled over that declaration for a moment, finding it surprisingly palatable. “I’ll take it as a measure of our trust in each other that neither of us thought about a prenuptial agreement before we tied the knot.”
“Never even a notion, darling.” He pulled her in for a searing kiss. “That’s what was on my mind.”
She returned it with heated fervor. “Mmmm, I’ll claim that rain check tonight. In the meantime, I imagine at least one of your bank accounts can take me to lunch.” She quirked her mouth in a smile.
Remington pressed his lips to hers one last time and escorted her out of the office. “I imagine it will.”
Over the next few months, Remington Steele Investigations and Mr. and Mrs. Steele each made numerous and considerable adjustments to their current situation. Mildred returned after the first four weeks with glowing praise for Daniel’s properties and detailed information about the portfolio he left scattered all over Europe.
Remington and Mildred closeted themselves for hours as they consolidated and reallocated the assets he inherited with his own. Unbeknownst to his wife, he retitled quite a bit into her name and several others into joint accounts. He was a touch too European not to hand over some substantial properties and assets as a bridal settlement. He considered the agency her dowry, a fact he was sure his liberated wife would find an insult, so he declined to mention it.
Laura peeked in from time to time but stayed busy with the final renovations on the new office suite. A week after Mildred returned, they began moving operations upstairs. Five days of four people stepping all over each other in three offices had became a bit much to bear, and they were all happy to relocate to bigger quarters.
During the move, Laura decided to keep Ian on full-time. The young man proved himself a solid employee by soothing clients and keeping the internal operations running smoothly. He had a Midwestern friendliness about him combined with pure California style that was quite appealing. Most importantly, he performed with the high level of professionalism Laura demanded.
She watched her husband to see how he adjusted to having Ian, another man, in the office. Remington and Murphy had been extremely competitive with Laura at the center of their difficulties. But Ian treated Laura with the utmost of respect and demonstrated no interest in her whatsoever. He was much enamored with his various girlfriends near his own age.
Remington only tolerated Ian at first, and then began treating the new employee as a younger brother, in need of advice and caution, often unlooked for. Ian was still quite intimidated by Mr. Steele, but they eventually established a working relationship.
Relieved of the secretarial duties of the agency, Mildred reveled in her new status as a full-fledged private investigator and dove into the work as if born to it. She had a real knack for uncovering “white-collar” crimes, and several small companies had already placed her on retainer to periodically review their books. A number of divorce attorneys kept her number on speed dial whenever extensive assets were involved or suspected.
With his brand-new private investigator’s license in hand, Remington groused about the expanded responsibilities of the security side of the firm but, with his usual charm, executed them with finesse and excellence.
Laura delicately managed the three of them and reserved the most complex of cases for herself. She unabashedly pulled in Mildred and Remington whenever necessary to their mutual delight. In case after case, the team solved thorny, interesting and often dangerous mysteries.
There was a token attempt by Laura to establish a policy about sex in the new office, but Remington managed to change her mind. Mildred and Ian made up their own rule about firmly knocking on any closed doors or buzzing the Steeles via the phone before entering one of their offices.
Three months after their return from Ireland, the Steeles celebrated the convalidation of their marriage at the Christ the King Catholic Church, found just down the street from their Rossmore Avenue penthouse. As they walked down the aisle together, each of them delighted to see the other wearing the same clothes from their wedding in Ireland--Laura in white Irish lace and Remington in his black tuxedo. The priest gave a blessing as they renewed their vows again.
He whispered to her, “Third time’s the charm, eh?”
She hid a small smile. “Just making sure you stick around.”
Abigail's beautiful reception at a nearby luxury hotel surpassed all expectations. A spattering of good clients, Bernice and her husband, a couple of Laura’s old roommates with their spouses and two of Remington’s good friends attended the celebration. Laura’s entire family, including an aunt and uncle she hadn’t seen in ages, came as well. The newly married Murphy and Kathleen Michaels arrived from Denver with a gleam in their eyes. The couple just found out they were expecting twins, and Kate’s tummy had already begun to round.
Of course, Mildred wouldn’t miss this for the world; she stood in for Remington’s family, and he wouldn’t have had it any other way. The tender way he kissed her cheek and hugged her for a long moment let her know how precious she was to him. She patted him on the side of his face and gave him a quick wink in return.
After dinner and many toasts, the crowd began dancing to the sweet, romantic tunes Remington selected for the evening. He danced with Laura, of course, then Abigail, Mildred, Francis and Kate. Laura spun around the floor with Murphy, Donald, and Remington’s old friend, Monroe.
At Remington’s signal, the band struck up its last tune, and the lead singer announced the couple’s final dance together. Family and friends took to their seats as Remington led Laura to the center of the floor. In the sparkle of the dim lights, the incandescent couple danced to the Casablanca classic, “As Time Goes By.” He softly sang the words to her as he swayed and spun with her across the dance floor. At the end, he swirled her into a perfect dip. She pointed her toes, then curled them at the suddenly passionate kiss he gave her. A camera flashed in the background. He brought her up again to the applause of the crowd and twirled her one last time before leading her off the dance floor for a final sip of champagne.
In spite of the teasing Laura doled out, she loved Remington’s showmanship. He wasn’t afraid of the limelight and he relished bringing her into it. Just as she delighted in proving to him that he could be faithful, serious and worthy of love, he reveled in bringing out her wild side, full of flash and sass.
Dizzy with happiness and champagne, the Steeles made their exit to the cheers of the small crowd. They tumbled into the backseat of the limo, giggling madly. The loving that night was fabulous as befits a happy couple celebrating their marriage the third time around.
The picture-perfect dip-and-a-kiss photo graced the LA Tribune gossip column the next morning. The caption? “Steeling a Bride.”
Chapter 6 -- Citizen Steele