Discoveries

During dinner, you were quite subdued. The image of Orlov and your parents - in particular, your mother - was haunting. When was the picture taken? It wasn't recent, but they didn't look like they were in their twenties. Was whatever happened there the reason for your family breaking up? How was it related to your current predicament - and it was related, you were sure of it. And were there other records of it - photographs, plane tickets, anything?

Your mother, on the other hand, went about her business as normal. During dinner, she nattered on about work at the hospital - but she did notice your awkwardness. But she was kind enough not to say anything about it, thinking it had to do with Neha. You had to think of a way to get more information...

You got your chance after dinner. The two of you were cleaning up, you handing plates to Ellen to clean. During this, you "innocently" asked her a question.

"So Mom, you ever hear about a company called Intelligentsia?"

Ellen freezes. There's definitely something there.

"Yeah," she says, keeping her voice nonchalant. "I think your father did some work for them some years ago."

Even with her being evasive, your mother's given you incredibly valuable information.

"Oh yeah? What was he doing with them?"

"Oh, I don't know the details. Something about risk assessment? Risk analysis? Something like that, anyway. Something to do with decision making."

"Huh. That sounds..."

"Boring?" Ellen asks, turning from the sink to face you. "Your father had a way of explaining his work that made it seem amazing, even to a lump like me."

"You're no lump, mom."

"Aw, you're too sweet," she says, rewarding you with a kiss on the cheek. "Regardless, it was one of the most boring projects he ever worked on... at least before..." she trails off.

"Yeah... so then, why did he do it?"

"Come on, kiddo, you're not that naive. It was for the money - they paid damn well. But what brought this up? Where did you hear about Intelligentsia?"

"Oh, I was looking at prospective employers from BCE. Other than the usual banks and megacorps, I mean. Intelligentsia used to pay really well until a few years ago, when they sort of fell off the face of the earth. They're still a registered company, so I wondered what happened." you explain. Being a straight-A student and certified nerd certainly had its share of benefits.

"Look at you, taking your future seriously! I'm so proud of you!" she gushes. "Well, if you must know, I don't think Intelligentsia were particularly good employers. Your dad certainly had his share of trouble with them, despite the money. And I think there was something about an ethics scandal, something about misusing private data?"

"Really? Well that's one future employer out of the picture then."

She answers you with a grin. "Well, look at you, all cocky. All this nonsense about a break from Neha has gone to your head, I think. I can't have you popping like a balloon!" She launches herself at you, and gives you a noogie. "Hah!" she crows. "Maternal power conquers all, brat!"

"What happened to the whole proud mother routine, huh?" you grumble.

"Whats that? Do I sense an expanding cranium?"

You roll your eyes. "No, no, head is firmly, rigidly in the right shape and size. Anyway, are we done, and can I go?"

"Sure, sweetheart. But don't stay up too... ah whatever, you're practically done with school anyway. Goodnight, love."

"'Night, mom."

With that, you race upstairs, practically vibrating with excitement. Your father was a contractor for Intelligentsia - at least six years ago, before he left. You parents had met Mihail Orlov himself, and it looks like your mother had something with him. You curse yourself for not pursuing that angle more diligently. And there's something there... Risk Assessment... something just at the edge of your consciousness... You need to tell Neha immediately.

You message her on the secure app you set up. Curiously, she takes a while to respond. You sit there, browsing cat videos for almost forty five minutes before she responds?

N: Hey babe, sorry i missed u. was distracted with something

You: np. distracted with what?

N: Doesnt matter. whats up?

You: Found something big. Had a vidcall with selene. don;'t ask. she was in a room with pictures, a bunch of them, famous ppl and stuff

N: think thats her bdroom. saw a bit when we were there.

You: Yeah. saw one picture i dont think she wanted me to. had mihail orlov with...

N: with?

You: my mom and dad. on a yacht (i guess) called the cariad.

N: o fuck! when was this

You: before he split obv. but dunno. need to track it. crossref travel with the cariad. even then might not be enough

N: true. but we know theres a real connection for both of us now.

You: Yeah. also i know what my dad was working on. well a bit anyway

N: what?

You: something to do with risk analysis. mom didn't know much.

N: wow! this is awesome. something to go on with.

You: right?

N: we'll get them babe, we'll fucking nail them to a wall

You: fuck yea. anyway gotta go now. love u!

(after a very long minute) N: love u too

------- With Neha, some time earlier ----------------------------------------

After an early dinner, Neha was lying on her bed with her laptop. Chess club meetings would be restarting, and she'd have to pick her successor as captain. There were a few good candidates, but...

She needed Ian - he was useless at Chess, but he was brilliant at handling things like this. He had a way of cutting through messy situations like this. She missed him... gods, she loved him. And whoo, he was good at what he did, he could read her body like a book and play her like a harp. And his tongue... Neha felt herself getting wet, and enjoying the feeling, she lay back and slid her hand into her pyjama shorts. Things were getting good, when

PING

She groaned, and reached out to grab her phone.

hey girl whats up

this is jarrett. from last night

Memories of their... activities... the previous night flashed through Neha's mind. It might have been the molly, but she'd had so much fun cutting loose. And Jarrett had been the biggest part of that. He was incredibly sexy, in a dangerous kind of way. And maybe she was so fucking horny now, but Sarah had made an interesting point of using the "trial separation" to cut loose and experiment, whatever the cause of separation... Ian himself had said he'd found it crazy and hot...

She decided to respond.

N: hey, you

J: was thinking about u. last nite was awesome

N: yea it was. we had a gr8 time

J: damn when i saw u, i never thot u could party like that

Neha bit her lip, smiling, and getting more turned on. Imagine, a hot, college boy after her! A wave of heat flushed through her, as she remembered his strength as he'd picked her up...

N: ud be surprised at exactly how i can party

J: ill bet. wud love to find out

N: stick around and u just might!

J: hell yea! besides, i got something of urs to return

Neha laughed and blushed, remembering the mementos she and Sarah had left them. She couldn't speak for Sarah's guy - Tim? Tom? - but Jarrett had more than earned hers.

N: i think that was payment for services rendered

J: nah, if were doing that, u owe me

N: owe u wat?

J: an orgasm

Neha laughed again. She noted absently that her panties were soaked.

N: lol actually, i think i owe u 2 ...

J: shit thats quite a debt lol

N: how ever will i repay u?

J: o im sure ill think of something

N: i can't wait!

Neha paused... she realized, that a huge part of her couldn't wait.

J: for now wat abt a pic?

Neha paused... this was... a lot... but she was horny, and this was exciting and fun in so many new ways...

N: just a sec

She leapt up from her bed, heart beating wildly. She rushed to her mirror to apply some makeup... there, just enough. Then locked her door. She took of her shirt, leaving her in her bra... that wouldn't do, he's already... another surge of arousal flooded Neha, as she recalled what Jarrett had done to her the previous night. With that, she shucked her shorts and her bra. She sent him a mirror selfie in nothing but her panties, her other arm covering her breasts.

J: damn!

N: do i get anything in return

The picture Jarrett sent her made her drool. He was almost naked, his shorts and boxers pulled down, displaying his impressive physique and tattoos - somehow, Neha realized that she really liked them - and his massive cock. Neha couldn't keep her eyes off it. It was huge!

N: damn !

J: thanx. do i get more?

Neha thought for a second, and threw caution to the wind. She threw off her panties, and took a picture, revealing her in all her glory. Then she took another one, showcasing her ass, and sent them to Jarrett.

J: !!!

Smiling, Neha sent him one last picture.

N: this is what u do to me. howre u gonna fix it?

J: thems fighting words! im coming over rite now. where u at

Neha sighed.

N: no can do.

J: fuck. this weekend. u, me, hotel room.

N: can't wait

J: meanwhile use this to keep warm. talk to u soon!

The last picture Jarrett sent her was of a close up of his cock, in all its veiny glory. Neha rolled her eyes (men!), but the conversation, her daring, how attractive she found Jarrett... she came in minutes.

Panting, she reached over to her computer, and saw a message in the secure app from Ian. Her arousal was replaced with a flood of guilt...

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