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Chapter Thirty
Last Updated:
2023-09-26 14:39:14
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BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Chapter Thirty One
By the time Nate was pulling up in his parking spot beside the trailer at the Starlight pipeline, he felt thoroughly overwhelmed and ready to snap. It wouldn’t be the best way to approach his father, so he took a few deep breaths, letting the engine cool now that he’d drawn the key out and tucked it into the sun visor over his head.When he finally did get out of his Lexus, he walked over to the stack of pipes set yards back from the trench. Construction workers bid him good morning as he passed. He nodded in response, though his gaze was locked on the new materials. To the naked eye, they appeared to be the new, platinum-coated steel cylinders that Mira had advocated for. When he stopped by seven chemical barrels and waved the construction manager over, he could tell by the labeling on the side of each barrel that it was also the correct, eco-friendly material.As he questioned the manager, a friendly guy who aimed to please, and as he tried to follow the man’s explanation, Nate coul
Last Updated : 2023-09-26BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Chapter Thirty Two
When Mira stepped out of the limousine, she was confronted with how loud the crowd was. A drone of echoing voices billowed across the dusty construction site, indicating the press conference was twelve yards up the trench.Intimidated and having refused the white cane that Dr. Fitzpatrick had offered her during her last appointment where he sealed her fate that she would never see due to the most critical optical nerves having been damaged beyond repair, Mira hesitated to venture towards the commotion.Thankfully, Hector and Jenny, two trusted members of One World, approached, calling out her name. “I’m glad you both could make it,” she said.“Of course,” said Hector, taking her arm. “It looks like everyone is gathered this way.” “What’s all this about?” Jenny asked curiously“Truth be told, I’m not sure,” she said, as they made their way towards the crowd. “How many people are here?”After a brief moment, he said, “It looks like five media outlets, and I would say about two hundred
Last Updated : 2023-09-26BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Chapter Thirty Three
When Mira woke the next morning she felt a strange mix of elation and dread. She almost couldn’t believe the Starlight Energy pipeline was going to be built far out in East Bellevue. It was the biggestaccomplishment of her career, and there was nothing to fear. Nate had signed the contract. This was happening. As thrilled as this made her, it wasn’t reason enough for her to forget the damning prognosis she had received from Dr. Fitzpatrick. Vital nerves behind her eyes were too damaged for Seattle Mercy to feel confident about giving her donor eyes.The board felt they couldn’t risk wasting two good eyes should her surgery go badly, and it would, according to her doctor. Nate was acting as though he wouldn’t let Dr. Fitzpatrick’s opinion on the matter stop him. But Nate ’s determination to somehow secure donated eyes without the help of the hospital wasn’t exactly realistic, as far as Mira was concerned.Opposites might attract, but Mira knew she and Nate couldn’t be more different.
Last Updated : 2023-09-26BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Chapter Thirty Four
While Mira sat in his exam room and endured similar tests as those he had conducted a few days prior, Nate stepped out to make a few calls, the reason for which he had been somewhat secretive about.As Dr. Fitzpatrick was finishing up, she asked, “What do you think the likelihood of Nate finding me donor eyes will be?”The doctor released a sigh then said, “I really couldn’t tell you.I have never endeavored anything so ambitious. All I can tell you is the likelihood of whether or not your body will accept or reject your new eyes, and the degree to which you might be able to see once they are in.”“So what’s the likelihood?”“I’ll have an idea once I examine the photos I’m taking. I should know in a day or so. Bear in mind, though, that we have three battles. The first is making sure the donor is, in fact, a match. I explained to you earlier that this aspect could be tricky to navigate. Then your body has to acceptthe eyes. And then after the nerves attach and heal, we’ll have to clo
Last Updated : 2023-09-26BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Chapter Thirty Five
Nate was due at the new Starlight site in East Bellevue, and though Mira had planned on making the drive with him to take pictures of the new site to document her achievement, she was completely shocked that Carter had been in the Escala the night she was attacked.Like Frank Wright, Carter wasn’t one to wear dress shoes, and Mira would like to think she would recognize him in some way his stature, his smell, his vibe but just because she hadn’t, didn’t mean itwasn’t him. Even though Mira had her suspicions as to who might be at the top of this twisted pyramid, she felt the first step toward solving the mystery would be to confront Carter. Why had he been there that night? She wasn’t looking forward to this. It had been so hurtful of him to take Nate ’s medical records to the press, completely disregarding her order not to. And if that hadn’t been bad enough, she still hadn’t dealt with his betrayal. Hearing Carter and Layla feed the press twisted truths mixedwith lies at the pres
Last Updated : 2023-09-26BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Chapter Thirty Six
She didn’t know how to break it to him that his father had drugged him all those years ago and was the person behind her terrorizing attack.Nate immediately announced how thrilled he was that, in his words, by this time tomorrow she would be able to see. Every time she tried to get a word in on the subject of Porter and his dark plans to control just about everyone around him, Nate would once again bubble over with glee that he had found her a donor“a match!” he kept saying, as though it were a miracle.It was. She didn’t deny it, but similar to that morning, Mira was boiling over with conflict.By the time they got back to the Escala after leaving East Bellevue and eating a five-course meal at a five-star restaurant on the west side of Seattle, Mira had given up on telling Nate about Porter and all she’d learned with Carter and Layla earlier that day. She would take the night, get good rest, go through her surgery tomorrow, and then when she was welland ready, she would explain to
Last Updated : 2023-09-26BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Chapter Thirty Seven
When Mira woke, gradually regaining consciousness, she couldsee nothing. Groggily, she lifted her hand to her eyes, though her arm feltheavy as cement. Touching gently, she felt a thick band of gauze wrappingher head and breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn’t that she couldn’t “see.”Thegauze was preventing her from seeing. Vaguely, she remembered Dr.Fitzpatrick had told her it could take the majority of the day for her eye toheal, but by nightfall she would be able to take the bandage off and tellwhether or not the surgery had been a success.Her hospital room felt warm, and for a moment she listened to thewhir of the vent pump crisp air into her room. It was quiet, though sheheard voices murmuring far beyond her door, perhaps nurses talking,doctors briefing the families of patients on their conditions, patients andloved ones reuniting after surgery, which made her wonder. Where wasNate ?Feeling along the armrest of her hospital bed, she found a fewbuttons on the console.
Last Updated : 2023-09-26BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Chapter Thirty Eight
Angling her hand against the side of his head to brush her fingers through his hair, she was startled to feel gauze.“What?” she heard herself say, even though she hadn’t meant to speak out loud.Gently, she felt his face with both hands. Gauze was wrapping his eyes, and instantly she knew why. At the same time, she couldn’t believe it.“Mira ,” he said groggily, waking up and catching her hands with his. “Nate , you didn’t,” she whispered, shocked. He sat up so he could be eye level with her.“Nate , tell me you didn’t,” she demanded, confused as to how this was supposed to make her feel. No one should sacrifice so greatly for her, yet she was grateful he had. “Finding a donor was proving impossible,” he explained. “I’m a lot of things, but patient isn’t one of them.”“So you...?”“I insisted Dr. Fitzpatrick test me to see if I was a match, and when I learned I was, the decision was easy.”“Easy? How could it be easy?” M“It just was.”He drew in a deep breath then sighed. “You ca
Last Updated : 2023-09-26
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BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Epilogue
EpilogueHe broke away, but his eyes never left hers as he said, ‘Hello, Connie.I have missed your cooking.’‘Don’t you “Hello, Connie” me. Where you been, eh? Worrying Mira half to death…’‘Were you?’ he asked. ‘Worried? You didn’t fancy being a rich widow?’Maybe he already knew the answer because he didn’t wait for it but looked down and said, ‘Hello, Toby. Been to a party?’‘Mmm.’ He gave Connie the balloon he was holding and offered up his goodie bag. ‘I have got cake.’‘Any to spare? I’m starving…’‘Later. It’s bath time,’ Mira said. ‘Can you take care of Toby for me,Connie?’‘I can take care of both of them if you like,’ she offered. ‘He’s going toneed help with his arm in plaster. No? You don’t want Connie?’ And shewent inside chuckling to herself. ‘Just you make sure you wash behind hisears, Mira.’ Then, ‘I call Matty and tell her Mr Dan is home.’‘What do you want first? Drink? Food? Bath?’He circled her with his arm as they walked up the steps into the house.‘I’ve go
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Chapter Seventy Two
‘If I fell under Matty’s metaphorical bus, you’d have to sell the house to pay inheritance tax. This way makes more sense. ‘It makes sense if you haven’t got a heart, but since we’re talking about the unexpected, let’s really go for it.’ She looked at him, demanding a response. ‘What’s on your mind?’ ‘This. We get married. You live upstairs in your little apartment. Me and Lame Ducks Incorporated are spread out all over the rest of your house. That’s what you have in mind, right?’ ‘Right.’ ‘Okay. Now tell me this. What happens when you meet the girl of your dreams and fall in love?’ Fran had to ask the question, even though the very idea of him falling in love drove daggers through her. ‘That’s the one thing that isn’t going to happen, Mira.’ His conviction shook her momentarily, but she pressed on. ‘Dan, I know you spend most of your life in the wilderness, chipping lumps off rock looking for oil and minerals—’ ‘Really it’s a bit more technical than that,’ he objected
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Chapter Seventy One
“She did what?” Mira was utterly beside herself that Layla had gone off on her own and once again acted recklessly, endangering others to thwart the pipeline. Carter had her by the shoulder from where she sat at Nate ’s desk, but it did little to comfort her.“She is in the county jail,” Nate explained. “I could overlook one attack that didn’t hurt anyone, but this time she used a grenade, blew out the side of our trailer, and put my father in the hospital. He’s going to presscharges, needless to say.”“Is he all right?” she asked.“He hit his head fairly hard and fractured his shoulder, but neither are life threatening.”Mira could hear his voice waver as though he was entirely beside himself.“How are you?” she asked urgently.“A bruised rib, but I will live.”Mira sensed Carter get to his feet, as his hand slipped off her shoulder.“I have to see her,” he explained. “Let’s get Harold on this if we can. Get her bail set.”“You can try,” said Nate . “I doubt she will be offered a ba
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Chapter Seventy
While Mira sat in his exam room and endured similar tests as those he had conducted a few days prior, Nate stepped out to make a few calls, the reason for which he had been somewhat secretive about. As Dr. was finishing up, she asked, “What do you think the likelihood of Nate finding me donor eyes will be?” The doctor released a sigh then said, “I really couldn’t tell you. I have never endeavored anything so ambitious. All I can tell you is the likelihood of whether or not your body will accept or reject your new eyes, and the degree to which you might be able to see once they are in.” “So what’s the likelihood?” “I’ll have an idea once I examine the photos I’m taking. I should know in a day or so. Bear in mind, though, that we have three battles. The first is making sure the donor is, in fact, a match. I explained to you earlier that this aspect could be tricky to navigate. Then your body has to accept the eyes. And then after the nerves attach and heal, we’ll have to closely m
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Chapter Sixty Nine
Chapter 69.He broke away, but his eyes never left hers as he said, ‘Hello, Connie.I’ve missed your cooking.’‘Don’t you “Hello, Connie” me. Where you been, eh? Worrying Mirahalf to death…’‘Were you?’ he asked. ‘Worried? You didn’t fancy being a rich widow?’Maybe he already knew the answer because he didn’t wait for it but lookeddown and said, ‘Hello, Toby. Been to a party?’‘Mmm.’ He gave Connie the balloon he was holding and offered up hisgoodie bag. ‘I’ve got cake.’‘Any to spare? I’m starving…’‘Later. It’s bath time,’ Mira said. ‘Can you take care of Toby for me,Connie?’‘I can take care of both of them if you like,’ she offered. ‘He’s going toneed help with his arm in plaster. No? You don’t want Connie?’ And shewent inside chuckling to herself. ‘Just you make sure you wash behind hisears, Mira.’ Then, ‘I call Matty and tell her Mr Dan is home.’‘What do you want first? Drink? Food? Bath?’He circled her with his arm as they walked up the steps into the house.‘I’ve got
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Chapter Sixty Eight
Angry with herself, she turned off the television, got to her feet. Dan might not be rescued for months. Was she planning on spending every hour in front of the television in case there was the slightest snippet of news? It was the last thing he would want. Catherine would let her know the minute anyone heard anything and in the meantime there were a hundred things that needed doing. She still hadn’t settled on the final layout for the slender catalogue that was going to be mailed out to all their customers, as well put as an insert in one of the Sunday supplements. It was going to cost a fortune. It had to be right. She caught sight of herself in the hall mirror. What a wreck. She needed to take a shower, wash her hair, change. Get her mind back on the job. On her family… But when she opened a drawer, searching for underwear that would stretch around her expanding belly, she found herself staring at the tiny silk box that contained the wedding ring Dan had put on her finger and she
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Chapter Sixty seven
Chapter 67.She returned a few moments later with a cardboard box that she placedon the floor and when she opened it the small silky brown and white headof a spaniel puppy appeared. Then a body wriggled free of the blanket andhe looked up at her and whined to be lifted out.She was lost for words. Dan might have left Catherine to pick outChristmas gifts, but this could only have come direct from him. Proof thathe was thinking of her… She caught herself. Thinking of Toby.‘I made the woman at the kennels promise she’d take him back if youdidn’t want him. Men have these great ideas…’‘When? When did Dan ask you to do this?’‘Oh, months ago. In fact, I think he called from the airport… It wassupposed to have been Toby’s Christmas present, but since he was soparticular it had to wait until the right spaniel produced the right pup.’ Sheshrugged apologetically. ‘You know Dan. He’s never satisfied with less thanperfection.’‘No?’ Her heart lurched uncomfortably. ‘No,’ she agreed.‘
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Chapter Sixty six
Chapter 66.Mira felt as if she was grieving all over again.She’d pulled into the garage and finally given way to the dammed-uptears she hadn’t been able to shed for Natein a mind-clearing storm ofguilt and loss. And when it was over she finally understood it all. That theirmarriage of convenience had been entirely for his expedience, not hers.Not cheap. But then this wasn’t about money. It was about control. Tobywas all the family he had. His heir. The boy who carried the family name.Marriage was the simplest and most effective way of stopping her frombecoming involved with someone else, giving him some other man’s name.Which answered any question she had about what was in the letterNatehad written to him. He had been a less than perfect partner, a lessthan perfect anything, except father. Relaxed to the point of being comatoseon most things, he had been uncharacteristically firm in his insistence thatDan be added to Toby’s name.Too late she saw that all that stuff abou
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Chapter Sixty Five
Chapter 65.The other was that he had simply decided that, despite his fine words,his promises, he expected payment in full for his investment in an unwantedhigh-maintenance wife. Why else would he be planning to move into herhome when, as she had just discovered, there was no need?How could he ask her to forgive him, when he wouldn’t be able toforgive himself?Instead he picked up her jacket, handed it to her in silence.‘Bathroom?’ she enquired, so quietly that he could barely hear her.‘Through here.’ He opened the door to his bedroom and the untouchedbed, just yards away, seemed to mock him. ‘You’ll find everything you’llneed.’Soap, hot water to wash him from her body.She ducked through the opening, leaving him to straighten himself out.Consider a future that was suddenly bleaker than he could have imaginedeven a week ago. An hour ago. Then he’d had some hope.He began to fasten his shirt, discovered that several of the buttons weretorn from it, and dug a fresh one out
