@GeraldineBanksJanuary2025
Martin and Sandy talked long into the night. The decision to make contact with Gerry Reid was a difficult one for both of them. There had been tears but no recriminations .They were being blackmailed. The Group that were saving Alex, were the good guys, but nevertheless they needed money to achieve their goals and they were going to get it whatever way they could. What they were doing was Criminal in the eyes of the State. However the situation was going to make Blackmailers out of Martin and Sandy too. They were entering dangerous waters , they would also be Criminals . Sandy though still couldn’t figure out where the money would come from.
Sandy had talked in the past to Martin about Gerry Reid without of course mentioning her brief encounter with him. At the time it had been office tittle tattle that she had shared over dinner. Martin had had the impression that Sandy did not like Gerry , but thought no further about it. He listened to the story ,without realising how useful it would be in the future.
Gerry had got engaged to a young production assistant he worked with. Once married Reid would be a very rich man. The young woman concerned was called Millie, an only child with elderly parents who doted on her. Millie’s parents were majority shareholders in the Media Conglomerate that owned the The Sunshine Media Company where Sandy worked. There was no doubt in Sandy’s mind that Reid was marrying for the money and there was a lot of it. They owned the licences and copyright for many Major Productions and in Sandy’s reckoning the funds would be unlimited. Millie in turn was marrying Gerry for his position and knowledge and probably she was naïve to think she was in love. There had been rumours that Gerry Reid had lost a lot of his own money through gambling, Sandy wasn’t sure if that was true, but the wedding had been put off a couple of times and Sandy thought that Millie’s parents were not best pleased that she was marrying someone old enough to be her father.
Sandy’s lightbulb moment came when she thought about the wedding . If anyone found out that Gerry would pass on a hereditary disease then that would be the end of his marriage plans. That would be the end of his relationship with Millie, no matter how much in love they were. The powerful parents would not let it go through, they would want healthy grandchildren. It would blow his chances completely. There was sure to be a water-tight prenuptial and Gerry would not want his genetic make- up to result in a divorce either. This was not natural Sandy territory, but Martin had given her a fire in her belly and led her to realise that the plan could work and that they could get the money to care for Alex. Indeed after discussing the plan , she felt confident of success. Sandy went into the office the next day with a determination to ensure that Gerry Reid would do exactly as she asked. She was determined to get the first payment for the following Friday delivery.
Mr Gerald Reid as an executive of The Sunshine Media Company had a plush office on the fifth floor of Sunshine Media Corps Building. Sandy arrived at her usual time on Monday morning and put her coat on the back of her chair in the open plan office where she normally sat. No one noticed her as she left the office and headed to the Executive Lift and took it to the fifth floor. Gerry’s office door was closed, but that did not bother her, she opened it and flounced into the office as if she owned the place.
Gerry was at his desk typing a report into his computer when Sandy appeared, he looked up surprised to see the mousy back up presenter that he had bedded for a bet with the ex-Managing Director of Sunshine Media who had since moved on to other horizons. He had won the bet but had felt bad after the event as he had nothing to offer the woman. Gerry knew how tight budgets were and he knew the hierarchy’s favourites. He even had to watch his own back, but with Millie in tow he was pretty safe. Nothing was going to change and what had happened was long before him and Millie had started seeing each other.
” Hello, it’s Sandy isn’t it? Nice of you to drop in , but I’m not aware that you have an appointment and I’ve got a rather urgent deadline”. He looked up from his computer , looking to get rid of Sandy as quickly as possible.
” No Gerry, I do not have an appointment, don’t need one really , we’re old mates really, arent’ we?”
” Pardon, Sandy, that was a long time ago, we’re both adults, it’s in the past. How are your assignments going?
Sandy stood tall above him , Gerry seated at his desk.
” My assignments are going fine. I’ve been covering the odd Parliamentary Debate and a lot of local news which you know all about. I get the leftovers no one else wants.”
” Ah , yes, you’ve been doing a great job on the local stuff, don’t worry we do notice.”
” Yes , I’m sure you do, just a shame you can’t do anything about it. The same people get the best jobs.”
” Now, now Sandy don’t be bitter, it’s unbecoming, at the end of the day we give the best people the best jobs. Your chance will come one day , just keep plugging away. Really nice to have a chat, but I really must get on.” Gerry looked up at her and dismissively signalled for Sandy to go out of the open door.
Sandy turned around and walked towards the door when she reached it she put her hand on the handle and closed it. She walked slowly back to where she had been standing.
” Sandy, I’ve got a deadline, I’m sorry , not now”
” Oh yes now, Gerry!” Sandy came closer to Gerry’s desk , reached over and closed the lid of his lap top. Gerry’s fingers were the only thing that stopped the lid coming down completely.
” Ouch, that hurt, I’m going to ring Security if you don’t get out of my office straight away”
” Enough Gerry, you won’t be ringing anyone once I’ve finished with you”.
” Look Sandy, I’m engaged to be married, what is in the past is in the past . What has got into you?”
” Gerry don’t flatter yourself, I’ve no interest in your flabby body or ruddy complexion and I’ve learnt that despite your bravado you are just another Corporate Face in this very dull organisation. What exactly does Miss Prissy Pants Senior Floor Assistant see in you, must be your unflappable charm.”
” Bitter, Sandy , Bitter, let’s leave Millie out of this “. Gerry looked up at Sandy acerbically
Sandy moved around the desk and put her face right up to Gerry’s.
” Oh no Gerry, not bitter, but I do have the bit between my teeth”. She reached her hand down towards Gerry’s crotch .
Gerry moved his chair backwards to get away from Sandy’s hand.
” Sandy, what has got into you , you stop this or I’ll get Security to throw you out.”
Sandy laughed as she took her hand away. ” Gerry you are just a scared little boy, but what I’m about to tell you is the really scary thing.”
” You’re mad! You’re completely raving bonkers”. Gerry tried to stand up and get out of his chair but in a flash Sandy jumped on top of him and straddled him with her legs, pinning him to the chair.
” Remember Gerry, remember I got pregnant after we had our one night stand. Remember it suited you so well that I had to go on Maternity leave as you were finding it so hard to have me around at work because you know you had nothing to offer me. I wasn’t really bothered once I knew I was going to have Alex, I was happy.”
“Look get off me , someone might come in”. Gerry pushed at her but Sandy held him down firmly. “I’m very sorry about you losing Alex, it was terrible , I remember at the time thinking it would affect you terribly. “
” Yes it did , and his father didn’t give a damn did he?”
” What do you mean? I thought that your husband was a great support to you at the time, everyone said so , it was very hard on you both.”
” Yes, but Alex’s father didn’t help at all.” Sandy stared into Gerry’s eyes. ” He did nothing to help and now it’s payback time You are Alex’s Daddy.”
” What are you talking about, Alex was not my son! That’s impossible.”
Sandy jumped off Gerry and moved back to the other side of the desk and sat down opposite Gerry in the office chair.
“Why Gerry?
” It was a one night stand, you never said anything about it at the time. Alex was you and your husband’s.” Gerry shuffled his seat forward towards the desk.
” I wish he had been mine and Martin’s we would have a healthy six year old now, instead of a child who’s suffering from a genetic disease which to all accounts should not exist and which the State believes has got to be removed from the population. That is what Martin and I are now facing. We need money Gerry and a lot of money and you are going to give it to us. Or I’m going to shout from the highest treetops that you are a man carrying a defective Gene. Say goodbye to Millie’s fortune when she hears that , her Parents will definitely be able to kick you into touch.
” I can’t have children, that’s impossible.”
” No what you mean is that you shouldn’t have children. The State does not want you to procreate, you can screw as many women as you like, but you must not have a baby with them. How long has that law been in place, maybe thirty years or so, how long have you known about your faulty gene?
Gerry’s face changed, it became pale and drawn . He was silent and Sandy held his glance. She stood back up and again moved behind the desk , stood behind him and ruffled his thinning hair.
Yes , how long have you known sweetie?”
“Sandy this is dangerous ground, I’ve always known , but I’ve never been in a position where it mattered. Alex is dead, he was taken away from you, if he was my son he’s dead. What is this going to achieve? I’m not planning on having any children, I have discussed this with Millie , she accepts it. As far as everyone is concerned Alex was yours and your husbands. I have nothing to do with it. Now get out of my office! Millie might come through that door any minute.”
Sandy stood up straight and breezily walked back to the chair in front of Gerry’s desk and sat down and crossed her legs.
” Alex , your son is very much alive and he is six years old” Sandy looked directly at Gerry.
There was a knock on the door and Millie, entered . She was taken aback that Gerry had someone with him. She gave Gerry a puzzled look. They looked more like father and daughter. Sandy held her ground and smiled at Millie.
” You still free for lunch , I just wanted to talk through a few things about the wedding , I’ve booked a table.”
” Mills , I’m afraid I’m going to have to cancel, something has come up, we’ll talk tonight when I get home”.
” OK, Gerry, let me know if I can be any help.”
Millie gently closed the door.
Sandy said ” Hope the wedding arrangements can be pulled forward, we need her families money now”. Sandy smiled.
thenotsomightyom 