Me when I stared writing Cold in 2020 and ended up writing 28K about the character's backstory before getting back to the main plot.
Chapter 12
In the last chapter we got the origin of Paris/Sera doing some roleplaying involving chastity/denial. I've said this before but in any serial where Paris/Sera are married --they have a D/s relationship to varying degrees. This isn't in the 'main' verse as much because they are just starting out as a couple.
I originally played with this concept when I wrote New Aeterna. In this verse Sera's character has survived assault and years of abuse. This relationship dynamic is a way for her to reclaim control. Conversely Paris has had power and responsibility thrust on him and this relationship is away for him to have a break from that.
With that said Chapter 12 showed the 'origin' of them using chastity and Sera having a key. This is actually something I've hinted at in QC and Noctis. I thought it was in Rogue...but I may have taken it out.
Noctis
suggestively slid the key around her neck and into her mouth,”Have you been good while I’ve been away?”
“Sera, I--.”
“Tell me how much you miss me.” She said with very little emotion.
Queen and Country
“Humans have no reverence. In ten years this court tradition will be a commercialized tourist trap and as dignified as Mardi Gras.”
“Don’t let anyone else hear you say that, Your Highness.”
“Is that an order, Captain ?”, she asked playing with the tiny gold key necklace she always wore.
My goal with the backstory was to slowly reveal why Paris/Sera's marriage is a little off. They aren't used to living together and Paris is trying to navigate a full-time job and the things Sera wants him to do.
I will say I do drop the ball with Sera's transition into doing Livestreams. While reading Years I realized I could never do it the same justice that SHV does.
Chapter 13
Quick re-cap.
Paris is getting comfortable in his new role as the 5th District Supervisor, but he feels his colleagues (Day, Bruno, Lee and Hollins) are icing him out. The only thing anyone wants him to do is the federal audit.
Paris cheats a little and uses Ubalance (a software he uses for Sera's business) to do the audit for him. The numbers don't add up and upon closer investigation he realizes that the yearly tax bills for The Municpal Complex (A large but outdated multi-purpose building) are fake. He digs and learns that the deed and mortgage for the building is also fake.
In 1987 Armitage Day (Cortland's father. I'm sorry SHV. IDK why I did this) and Dr. Hollins Sr. (Supervisor Hollin's father. Supervisor Hollin's father is called Hollins, Sr.) cooked up this plan where Hollins, Sr. would buy the building and then Armitage would draw up fake papers making it look like the county bought it. Then they would over bill the county for property taxes and split the money.
They did this for years and when the property value went up in the later 90's they were able to make a ton with this scheme and never stopped. Armitage Day died 8 years ago. Day has been keeping his father's secret and continuing the fraud.
Paris should keep quiet. After all he used his private laptop (I made it a ChromeBook because Sera wanted the more superior MacBook) and if the case goes to court EVERYTHING on the computer could become public...including Sera's client list. (Friendly reminder it's 2017 so the Hilary Clinton e-mail server controversy is still fresh. Hilary's e-mails randomly got out because of the discovery in the Wiener trial)
The thing is Day is looking to run for Governor and if this goes bad Paris covers it up he could face jail time if it's discovered.
Paris compiles a dossier on everything he's found. He wants to confront Day ...but he also wants more dirt on Day.
So when Day invites Paris to his annual Summer Kick-Off Cookout...Paris is ready to go.
Previously
“You are so interesting Paris Prince.”, Day opens up his laptop, “So you coming to the barbeque? I just got a new pool put in. I can let Sky know what to put on the menu. You’re a vegetarian right?”
“I actually….I”, a thought occurs to me. This was too perfect, “Yes. I’ll be there.”
“Cool. Bring your wife. We can talk about your future. Get you in front of the right people, okay?”
He attempts to say “my wife” casually, like he probably hasn’t jerked off to the part of the video where she gives Sven a blow job. I lift my bag and the VacationSavers dossier almost slips out again.
“I should get to work”, I say and head to my office. I curse at the desk I guess I didn’t need to put together and take a seat at the temporary folding table.
I lay out the dossier. Examining each page. At best this evidence was all circumstantial. Everything tied back to Dr. Hollins, Sr. and Armitage, but nothing tied directly to Day. He signed off on tons of transactions. He didn’t look at each one.
I pick up my cell phone and call Sera. I’m surprised she picks up on the first ring.
“Yes?” she sounds distracted.
“Darling, I didn’t do it”, I whisper, “The thing with the …dossier. I didn’t confront Day.”
“I—this has nothing to do with me, Paris.”
She’s breathing heavy and I pick up a rhythmic thrum in the background. I’d interrupted her morning run.
“Actually it kind of does. I’m not doing the thing today because Day invited us to a barbeque at this house. “
She sighs and I can hear her rolling her eyes.
“Paris you sound like you’re in college again. Dropping your convictions because someone includes you. You are better than that now.”
“It’s not like that”, I say wondering whose side she was on, “I’m thinking maybe you can distract him while I …explore his house? Maybe act like you want take him on as a client. He has to have something in his house that will clearly tie him to the embezzlement. I mean what I have is good but I want something that will be concrete.”
“Why do I have to distract him?” she asks.
“He just turned into my best friend because he met you.”
She’s silent for a while.
“I’m not a shiny toy, Paris.”, she says.
“I know. I do. I hate asking you to do this.”
She thinks on this for what feels like forever.
“Fine. I’ll help if you think it’s the right thing to do.”
“Thank you. This is a good thing, Sera. The more information I have the better.”
She’d already hung up and I finger my wedding band nervously. We were in this together now.
Chapter 13
Playlist
+1+
Connection -OneRepublic (These guys again)
Blank Pages - The Album Leaf
Summer Song - Agnes Obel
+2+
Play With Fire - Sam Tinnesz
