More Than What We See ✔ (Lesbian Story GxG)

Part 18

  "Little Blonde Beauty Swinging In A Yellow Dress" by Elizabeth Blaylock  

Sofia rummaged through a drawer of the filing cabinet, a small flashlight clutched between her teeth. The legal department of Harrington and Harrington long since silent earlier than it normally was for the busy office. She thought about her actions not sure if Patricia knew she was there searching through her company's private documents if women would have helped her or had her arrested, but for the blonde's safety, Sofia decided not to tell her.

She knew what she was doing was in every way a contradiction to what she was learning in school. But she had a gut feeling there was more going on than Patricia knew, and because the love she'd witnessed growing between her two new friends reminded her of how it was for Clara and herself.

It was Friday and Sofia had come to visit once again, she was dying to let Patricia know of Elliot's true identity but it was not her place, all she could do was help in hopes that she could reunite them before it was too late. She found her way into a maintenance closet and stayed until the building emptied. With most of the employees gone, she made her way to the stairway and without sound made her way down to the next floor.

Thanks to the tour provided to her by none other than that snake Richard Shaw who flirted with her the entire time. Sofia knew exactly which office belonged to Kenneth Dudley, Harrington's head of legal where she was now searching for the missing document of the will. She had found out that most of the company's employees were going to be at a banquet a few blocks away to formally introduce Patricia to the buildings one hundred and fifteen employees.

'What do you mean we need to move it up?' Sofia heard a voice from behind the closed office door. 'Ugh, I could have sworn I left this door unlocked.' She heard the same man grumble. Keys jingled as she quickly scanned the office for a place to hide.

'If we don't get a move on with this wedding we are going to miss the deadline to buy out Eurocom." Another voice spoke.

"Why do you want The Shaw Architectural Firm anyway?' The first voice spoke, "you don't need them to get Eurocom. I mean isn't being the CEO and owner of Harrington and Harrington enough?"

"Nothing is ever enough if Samuel Shaw had given me what he promised all those years ago none of this would be happening. I'd have control of both companies and we'd have dominated the industry. It is because of my failed business deal with him that my father had decided not to directly hand the company over to me."

"Do you think the old woman will turn the company over to him? I'm not sure she's even ready to step down." Sofia pushed back the chair from the large polished oak desk and pressed herself as far under it as she could pulling the chair back in place.

"We'll deal with that after the wedding, I'll have a little chat with my daughter tonight, she and Richard will send out an announcement that the wedding has been moved up. Soon I will be in complete control of the company."

Three months, Sofia placed a hand over her mouth and held in her gasp. She had to warn Patricia but still she did not understand how her father could easily take her seat as the CEO and owner so easily.

As if reading her mind, the man she assumed was Dudley answered, "The paperwork is in order, once your daughter marries Richard Shaw she relinquishes her holding on the company."

"Are you positive there is no loophole for her to get around?" The man Sofia knew to be Patricia's father asked.

"No, the will clearly states if an heir allows themselves to be manipulated into doing something they oppose, that person is clearly not fit to run the company," Dudley answered. "Are you sure she will go forward with the wedding?" He asked.

"For the well-being of her mother, yes." Mr. Harrington laughed. "You just make sure these documents are locked away until after the proceedings."

"Sure thing sir." Sofia realized why Patricia went along with this preposterous plan. Her father had threatened her mother's safety. She wondered if Patricia knew of her father's plan to take over the company, if she would have done something differently, like explained the situation to Elliot.

"We need to set up a meeting to propose a merger with Elizabeth Shaw, I'm sure by now she has heard of the engagement. Send out an announcement to the media that the wedding has moved up as well." Sofia heard their voices starting to fade letting her know they were leaving.

She needed to talk to Patricia but more importantly, she needed to talk to Elizabeth and warn her.

****

Clara had returned home after helping Elizabeth make arrangements for an art exposition for Elliot's work. Something she had planned since coming across her granddaughter's paintings. Elizabeth took it upon herself to purchase one of New York's finest gallery's just for the event.

She heard music blaring from behind the closed door leading to Elliot's studio. She made her way down the stairs excited that Elliot had returned from her recent assignment. "Elliot, " she called out seeing the back of the raven-haired woman and was surprised when she did not get a response as Elliot sat hunched over, her hands vigorously moved across the canvas in front of her. "El," she tried again moving closer.

Elliot movements continue as Clara stepped around her to gain her attention. Those blue eyes never left the canvas as if in a trace the strange image continue to manifest.

It was not Elliot's normal work that Clara was used to. The picture was dark, frightening even to the younger brunette. An image of a young battered child. Though her eyes filled with tears still she couldn't pull them away.

Clara quietly slid into the seat nearby, her eyes moved to the artist, whose facial expression held sorrow and pain.

She watched as Elliot's face contorted as if she was trying to fight back a memory.

Color began finding its way into the image swirling and mixing with the dark, the bright vibrant colors untouched on the palette seeming to be beckoning and pleading for attention.

Elliot straightened up in her seat startling her at first. Clara watched as the image changed, the battered child slowly fading behind a multicolored garden and another image of two small girls.

One a young blonde, the life-like portrait seeming almost alive as her hair blew effortlessly while being pushed on a swing by a... Clara leaned forward.

She looked at the children at play. A very young image of the woman seated before her laughing, her hand held out in front of her anticipating the downward return of the swing. Her eyes moved back to the other child. A gasp echoed from her lips when she recognized those familiar gray eyes. How?

Clara fumbled for her cell phone and dials. "Where are you? There's something you need to see."