Around 2 PM Laura and Remington were in the elevator heading toward the 11th floor of the Century Plaza Towers, held shyly from the tip of their fingers They felt completely different despite the familiarity of the way. Today everything was different, more brilliant, with an unusual color, the people and the things seemed different.
"My love", said Remy getting closer to Laura's ear as to tell her a secret, even though there was nobody in the elevator.
"Yes?" answered Laura, a shiver running through her whole body when she felt Remy's breath close to her neck.
"I still think that we should have stayed home today, I'm noticing that the symptoms of my illness are coming back."
"OH, but Mr. Steele you're an insatiable patient, aren't you??"
"Yes, I'm a devil, no?? Well, as we have stopped the treatment for a moment and to have a little fun, what do you think of scaring Mildred a little?"
"Scare her? How?"
"Telling her that we have decided to go back to our previous state, to a completely professional relationship."
"OH, but Mildred will go crazy!"
"Just a bit of pepper," he said with that smile of a naughty but irresistible boy.
"Well, all right. What do you have in mind?"
"First, take off the ring and when she asks how it went, we tell her that everything went fine because we have realized that everything was a fantasy. I leave the serious part up to you."
"I'm not sure if I can!!"
"Yes, you can", he said kissing her neck, as the doors of the elevator opened.
"OH, that's not fair!!"
"And this?" he said embracing her and kissing her leaning on the frame of the open elevator's door.
"OH, you're incorrigible!!" she said getting away and heading towards the office.
Mildred's face brightened when she saw them coming through the glass door of the office.
"Hi kids!! How do you do?" she asked smiling, but slowly her smile blurred from her face as she watched their serious faces without glance.
"Hello, Mildred", both said coldly.
"What, what happened? Don't tell me something went wrong? Did you had some unexpected interruption and everything was ruined?"
"On the contrary, Mildred, everything was perfect, nothing disturbed us and maybe that's the reason ..."
"Yes, that's right", Laura went on very serious, "we have realized that everything was a game, that it's just work what really keeps us together. So we will go on with a strictly professional relationship."
Mildred's eyes were completely open, the same as her mouth. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. But on the other hand, Laura wasn't wearing her ring and both seemed too somber.
"Bu- ...but .. and ... what about past Friday ... and your engagement ... and ...?"
"Yes, Mildred, everything alleviated a four years tension, and now we can say for sure that we are two good friends that work pretty good together", assured Remington, almost unable to refrain from revealing Mildred the truth, but with a very convinced and firm voice.
"So this is what all we did this weekend and everything we have done for you through the years served for? I knew I couldn't leave you alone, I told Max, but we thought that you had finally grown-up, both of you", said Mildred really angry. Remington and Laura had never seen her like that before. "Good, that's your decision? Right, I AM LEAVING. Over three years have I watched you playing cat and mouse, I love you as if you were my children, I have taken part in both your games knowing that you needed each other and that time would come when you grew up and left your fears and would love unreservedly. But, IT'S ENOUGH", her eyes were red with anger. "I'M NOT GOING ON watching as you destroy each other. NO, NO WAY." She took her pursue nervously; turning around and looking them into the eyes, she said in a sad tone: "I'm going to a funeral; I will bury you two forever."
Remington and Laura were confused by Mildred's reaction; they couldn't spell a word while they watched her leaving the office.
"Laura, we must stop her!!"
"OH yes, yes!!"
Both ran out after her.
"MILDRED ... MILDRED!!! WAIT, PLEASE!!"
"NO, NO ... I DON'T WANT!!" she repeated with the same deep hurt as that of a mother that sees the destruction of her children. Suddenly and before they could react, Mildred collapsed on the floor.
"OH MY GOD!! ... WHAT HAVE WE DONE??" Laura said while she approached to raise Mildred's head, and Remington checked if she breathed.
"OH, LORD! MILDRED DON'T DO THIS TO US, PLEASE!! I have never had a mother and I don't want to lose you now," said Remington going crazy thinking he had caused this disaster to the other woman of his life. "OH, GOD! MILDRED, EVERYTHING WAS A JOKE!", he said while he slapped softly Mildred's cheeks trying to recover her.
Laura cried inconsolable. "Look what we have done. I could never forgive me if something wrong happens. COME ON, RUN AND CALL AN AMBULANCE!!!"
"Oh, yes, yes ... Mild..." said Remy between sobs. He stood up to call the paramedics.
Both were so sad for what was happening that they didn't notice that Mildred opened the eyes very conscious. "WELL; I HOPE YOU'VE LEARNED THE LESSON!", she said with a severe tone. "YOU CAN'T CHEAT ME!!" she said standing up.
Laura and Remy could not recover seeing Mildred getting up and admonishing them.
Remy kneeled, hugged her and said: "I SWEAR THAT I'M NEVER GOING TO DO THIS AGAIN. NEVER MORE, I PROMISE! You have frightened us!!" he said drying his eyes.
Laura was still shocked and crying: "FORGIVE US, MILDRED!!" she said sobbing.
"WELL; STOP THE TEARS. HELP ME TO GET UP FROM HERE! I'm a bit old for these plays." Both helped her to get up from the floor and hugged her at the same time.
"NOW, WHERE IS THE WONDERFUL RING that the boss gave you, Miss Holt?"
"Here in my pocket, Mildred ... You frightened us!!"
"The same you tried to give me. Now I want all the details from this weekend, eh? You're not going to leave me intrigued, no?"
"Let's return to the office and with a cup of coffee between hands we can share some details with you ... not everything, eh?" said Remy trying to recover.
"Right!" The three went to the office embraced and happy.
Mildred prepared some coffee, while Remy dried Laura's tears with his handkerchief. "Come on, love, everything is all right now." He took her by her shoulders and took her to his office. "Come, let's tell Mildred about the highlights, and this will comfort us three, right?"
"Yes, yes."
Once inside Remington' office, he hugged her to comfort her and when he was upon to kiss her, Mildred came in with the coffee, interrupting them as usual.
"That's what I want to watch from now on: you two hugging and loving each other!"
"NO Mildred ... Not in the office," said Laura quickly moving away from Remy.
"NO??" asked Mildred and Remy at the same time.
"NO ... And don't look that way, you two, that I'm not the bad witch. It's just that we have to keep up appearances in front of our clients, the same as before."
"Well, let's get straight to the point. We will discuss that later. Now I want you to tell me HOW THE WEEKEND WENT."
The three sat down on the armchairs with their cups of coffee: Laura and Remy on the big sofa and Mildred on the armchair. Remy put his arm behind Laura on the back of the sofa.
"Well, I think that Laura can sum it up better than me," he said looking at her with naughtiness of a mischievous kid.
"All right, but I want you to take also part in the summary."
"Of course, of course."
"Well, Mildred, trying to be as concise as possible and so that you can have a clear idea of everything: IT WAS THE MOST WONDERFUL WEEKEND IN ALL MY LIFE. IT WAS IF I WERE BORN AGAIN!!"
"And you, chief, what do you have to say?"
"Well, Mildred, I don't know if I could be as brief and succinct as Miss Holt, because you know that I've never been able to do it, but I'll try. I think that NO MOVIE, and pay attention as you know that I've seen a lot, NO MOVIE CAN BE IN NO WAY AS OUR WEEKEND WAS. Do you think that I've gone straight to the point?" he said with his usual smile.
"OH yes, chief ... perfectly brief and clear. Well, now I want the details."
"Excuse me, ... may I come in? As there was nobody in the reception area and I heard voices here, I decided to go in. Remington Steele? You are Remington Steele?"
"Well Mildred," said Remington standing up, "you see we're back to the reality. Yes, sir, I'm Remington Steele and this is my associate Laura Holt and our assistant Mildred Krebs. What can we do for you, Mr. ...?"
"Mr. Ketchun, owner of Platinum Airlines."
"Well, Mr. Ketchun, you have to forgive us but we have just solved a VERY IMPORTANT case, and were exchanging some notes for our files. Please, Mildred, one coffee for Mr. Ketchun. Don't put any call through."
"Right, Mr. Steele, immediately."
Laura and Remington took their places at the wooden table and talked with the new client. "Ah, Mr. Ketchun, could you forgive me one moment? I have just remembered that I need to solve a pendant subject with our assistant. I'll be back in a second and will be at your disposal. Meanwhile, Miss Holt can take my place and get the first details from you."
Laura was astonished by Remy's reaction and said: "Yes, ... yes, ... of course, let us start while Mr. Steele solves whatever he has to solve" watching him with distrust.
"Ok, I'll be back in a minute" and went out to the reception area. Once there, Mildred looked surprised when he approached her and said: "Mildred, please, call this number and ask for Philippe. Put me through in the office of de Miss Holt."
"OK chief, ... what are you planning now?"
"Nothing, you still don't trust me, Mildred?"
"Yes, but you're always getting into trouble and your friends frightened me. Take care of what you're going to do, OK?"
"YEEES Mildred, trust me ... I wait in Laura's office, hurry up because I have to go back there."
Mildred put the call through. "Hello, Philippe?? Comme ca-va? Bien? Je voudrai que tu m'aides et tout suit! OUI. Do you remember the golden heart I asked you to reserve for me? I need it right now and I want you to engrave the following: I love you. R. As soon as you have it, bring it to my office, to Miss Krebbs, OK? Merci, oui, oui ..."
As soon as he hang up, he called Laura with the inside phone: "Hello Miss Holt, I need to ask you a very important question."
"Yes, tell me", Laura said giving the client a look of apology for this interruption.
"When you said we have to keep up appearances, does this mean that the treatment to cure insomnia is not going to take place here at the office?"
Laura coughed a little and her cheeks blushed just by the thought of making love to Remington at the office, one thing that on the other hand she had been daydreaming thousand of times sitting at her desk. "Ejem, we'll talk later about this subject; we have to analyze the possibilities in that case, but now Platinum Airlines needs our service ... can we discuss this matter later?" she said trying to recover and that the client didn't notice her annoyance.
"Ah ... well ... well ... all right, but it's not a closed case, right?"
"NO ... no, of course not", she said clearing her throat.
"Well, I'm going immediately, love!" he said with a soft voice that made Laura blushed again.
"Good, good, ... I wait for you."
"Excuse me, Mr. Ketchun, but we've just solved a case and haven't had time to organize other we had pendant."
"Yes, of course, I understand, your boss is a very busy man, right? But he has been recommended to me as the best, so I don't mind for waiting."
"Please, could you give me more details of the body you found?"
"Couldn't it be better to wait for Mr. Steele?"
"Don't worry, I can sum the case with the most important facts", said Laura somehow offended.
"Well, here I am Mr. Ketchun, at your complete disposal. It was essential to clarify some matters before diving into your case. I hope you have enjoyed the company of my brilliant associate Miss Holt," said Remington coming in the office with a big smile.
"Yes, of course, we have talked about the case."
"Yes, we already got some details," said Laura with a look of disapproval, but sensual and tender at the same time.
"Oh, yes, I see. Can you fill me in?"
After they had been informed about the case, they decided to go with the client to the airport to investigate, get some clues and prepare their undercover to go into Platinum Airlines, Remington as a passenger and Laura as part of the crew.
Around 6 PM they returned to the office to inform Mildred about the case that would start the following day. As soon as they entered the office, Mildred, trying not to be seen by Laura, made a gesture to Remington to tell him that she got what he had asked for. While Laura went towards her office to pick up some papers she needed, Remington approached Mildred and asked secretly for the box.
"Did you see it?"
"Noooo, how do you think I could ...?!"
"Come on, what do you thing about?"
"It's wonderful!!"
"Well, I want these three words, which took me so long to say, stay close to her heart forever."
"Oh boss, what happy it makes that you have finally succeed in expressing your feelings. God listened to my prayer!"
"Another one talking about God. You two are too religious lately, what are you planning now?" said Laura sticking her head out of her office.
"No, nothing, I was just telling the boss that I can't stop thanking God for the day I met you two!"
"Well, here is your ticket, chief, and in your office you will find the uniform and your credentials, Miss Holt."
"Yes, I saw it, Mildred, thank you."
"Well, Mildred, call Fred to bring the limo, we have to go home early as tomorrow is going to be a long working day."
"Ok chief, you got it!"
Once inside the car, Laura was silent and buried in her thoughts.
"Darling ... love??" Remy said taking her by the shoulders.
"Yes ..." said Laura somewhat frightened.
"What happens?"
"Nothing, I was just thinking in the case."
"In the case? Come on, you cannot cheat me, you remember? I know you well!!"
"Well, I was ... thinking in us ... I wish we could continue being on holidays ... I don't know myself ... I don't care about this case and all I want is to be AT HOME in your arms", she said with her head low. "But don't take me serious, I'm a bit confused, that's all."
"Well, I think I have the remedy to cure you!"
"OH YES? And what's this heal?" she said looking at him sweetly.
"Now, close your eyes", he said while he came closer caressing her cheek.
"Bu- ... but what for??"
"Close your eyes; don't you trust me?"
"All right, what are you planning now?"
Remy took Laura's hand, opened it with the palm upwards, he kissed her hand making Laura shiver, then he put in it the golden chain with the heart and closed her hand kissing her fist.
"Now you may open your eyes, my love!"
"WHAT IS THIS??"
"Just one thing which was in my heart since the first moment I saw you and right through four years, it was too hard for me to say it in words; that's the reason I wanted it to be engraved and always close to your heart so you never forget it, my love!!"
Laura opened the hand and saw the heart; she read the dedication. "OH, MY LOVE!!" she said hugging and kissing him. "I LOVE you too, with all my heart!!"
"So do I, love, and the most I wish is to be with you forever!!"
They kissed deeply foreseeing all the passion and love they would share that night. Fred observed them through the rear mirror and smiled seeing their chiefs finally together.
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