#Professional Security Camera Installation

[coolwaysgroupofcompanies]

Professional Security Camera Installation: Protect Your Home with Expert Solutions

When it comes to protecting your home or business, nothing matches the reliability of professional security camera installation from Coolways Group of Companies. We specialize in providing top-tier security solutions that offer comprehensive coverage and peace of mind. Our team of certified experts will assess your property, identify vulnerable areas, and install high-quality cameras tailored to your specific security needs.

Whether you need indoor surveillance or outdoor monitoring, our cameras come equipped with advanced features like HD resolution, night vision, and real-time alerts. With Coolways Group of Companies, you can trust that every angle is covered, ensuring round-the-clock protection. Plus, our user-friendly systems give you access to live footage from your smartphone, so you're always connected and informed.

Choose Coolways Group of Companies for professional security camera installation that combines cutting-edge technology with expert installation, keeping your property safe and secure.

[advertisingmarketing]

Home CCTV

[zinitech]

Zini Technologies' Superior Cloud Backup Service: Safeguarding Your Data with Excellence

In the age of technology and data-driven operations, ensuring the security and availability of your digital assets is paramount. Zini Technologies, a recognized leader in the realm of IT services, is proud to introduce its state-of-the-art cloud backup service. With our robust and reliable solutions, we offer you the peace of mind that your data is protected and accessible whenever and wherever you need it.

Cloud Computing for Secure Backup

In today's fast-paced world, the utilization of cloud computing has revolutionized how data is stored, managed, and safeguarded. Zini Technologies' cloud backup service takes full advantage of this technology, providing you with a scalable, cost-effective, and secure means of backing up your critical data. No longer do you have to rely solely on on-site servers or local backups.

Backup Made Easy with Remote Backup Service

Our remote backup service is designed with your convenience in mind. No matter where you are or what device you use, our service ensures that your data is securely and automatically backed up. Whether you work with Windows servers, Linux-based systems, or the latest macOS computers, we've got you covered. You can even restore your data to a different computer, making recovery hassle-free.

Reliable and Secure Data Protection

Your data's security is our top priority. Zini Technologies employs stringent security measures to ensure that your data is encrypted and protected from unauthorized access. With our cloud backup service, you can trust that your data is stored securely in our high-availability data centers.

Server and Computer Backup

Our cloud backup solution is not limited to just one type of device or server. We understand that businesses use a variety of platforms. That's why we offer server and computer backup services, allowing you to back up your entire infrastructure seamlessly.

Affordability and Peace of Mind

Zini Technologies' cloud backup service is not only robust and reliable but also highly cost-effective. With us, you can enjoy the assurance of your data's safety without breaking the bank. Our competitive pricing ensures that businesses of all sizes can afford the benefits of a secure backup service.

A Solution You Can Trust

Our cloud backup service is the result of years of experience and expertise in the field of data management. We understand that the data you store is not just numbers and files; it's the backbone of your business. With Zini Technologies, you have a trusted partner committed to safeguarding your data's integrity and availability.

In conclusion, data protection and backup are integral parts of any modern business. Zini Technologies' cloud backup service offers a comprehensive, reliable, and secure solution to ensure your data is always within reach. With our service, you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your data is protected and ready for recovery when you need it. Don't leave your data's security to chance – trust Zini Technologies to provide the professional and dependable backup service your business deserves.

[veronicabohnert98]

DIY vs. Professional Installation of a Security Camera

Your home may be kept safe by installing outdoor camera. They won't function correctly, though, and improper installation can potentially land you in legal problems. You won't have to pay for installation if you install your security camera yourself. You'll need to pay for that service if you'd rather have the experts handle it for you.

Professional installation

If you choose one of the professionally fitted security systems, an installation technician will set up your cameras as well as the rest of the system for you. For that professional installation, you can pay as much as $199. It's considerably simpler to hire a pro to install the cameras for you if you want a large network of home security cameras that connect to your home security system. Having professionals install video doorbells makes it simpler and eliminates the need to fiddle with electrical wiring.

DIY installation

After you pay for the equipment, installing a camera yourself is practically free. The majority of cameras available today are not only simple to install on your own, but they are also made to be as painless as possible. Some of them are magnetically attachable, may be mounted on a wall, and can be placed on a table. But not everyone feels at ease drilling into their walls. The most straightforward cameras to install on your own are those that are battery- and wire-powered. If you have an inside security camera, you may put it up yourself very easily as well. The camera only needs to be placed where you want it and plugged into electricity.

Third-party services like HelloTech are an excellent method to find local professional installation for security cameras if you're buying a camera yourself and want to have it properly installed. In addition, compared to paying greater costs from CCTV businesses, it offers decent value.

[smartvisionplus]

How Security Camera Installations Protect Toronto (GTA) Residents

For residents across Toronto and the GTA, prioritizing home safety and security is essential, and one effective way to do this is through professional security camera installation. 

Smart Vision Plus can provide residents with a quality Security Camera in Toronto installation service that can play a crucial role in crime prevention and emergency response. To better understand how a security system can contribute to a safer community, check out our new blog post.🏡🔒

🔒 Learn More: https://www.smartvisionplus.ca/blog/how-security-camera-installations-protect-toronto-gta-residents/

📞 Phone: 1-833-880-4591

📬 Email: info@smartvisionplus.ca

📍 Location: Thornhill and Greater Toronto Area

[untoldstar]

rich! yandere x fem reader pt.2

tw: yandere themes, stalking, obsessive behavior, abuse of power

“Thank you for squeezing us into your schedule, we hope you’ll take our offer into consideration. Please, take your time when coming to a decision” the man stands up gathering his papers swiftly and putting them in his briefcase, warner stands up, he has an expensive suit on the dark color of it dripping with luxury, its fit highlighting his muscular build, broad shoulders, perfect posture but his stature is still relaxed, he smiles politely at the man and nods "I'll think it over carefully, let me see you out" he leads the man outside exchange farewells and a handshake, once the man is out and the door is shut he lets out a sigh, that meeting lasted much longer than he expected, he walks across the office towards his desk, his office is spacious, wide shelves containing books, awards, files, on one side of the room a comfortable leather couch and sofa chair with a table in front of them, on the other side of it a small bar, his desk is intimidatingly long and behind it, the entire wall is glass overlooking the beautiful city.

He sits down on his desk chair and turns towards his monitor, his eyes softening once they settle on the screen, a soft smile ghosting his lips "my apologies my love, that took longer than I had expected" on his screen was a security camera footage, live footage of you working diligently at your job, he has access to security cameras everywhere and he installed a few in your house, he leans back in his chair watching you, he considers this a form of spending time with you, as well as making sure no one at your job crosses the line and causes him to get his hands dirty, once a co-worker of yours had thought he was high and mighty because he had gotten a promotion, a client of yours screwed up and caused a big commotion in the office and of course, he was blaming you for it, he watched the man raise his voice at you, he felt pride swell in his chest when you kept your composure and handled the situation like a professional, never cracking once, he loved that about you, still..the man was trash, there was no use for him around you, the next day news spread that he had been fired, he let out a low chuckle in amusement when the microphone on your computer caught you grumbling "serves him right" under your breath.

He's aware of sexual harassment in the workplace so when a filthy man in your office invaded your space when you were alone and groped you he wasted no time in throwing him in a ditch somewhere, not before cutting off his filthy hands for touching you of course, you were such a sweet pretty thing, he can't control the fact everyone wants a piece of you so he takes it upon himself to welcome anyone who tries to make a move on you, look at you, touch you or hurt you, he likes to see how confident they are in their actions for the irony of how pathetic they are when they're on their knees bleeding and pleading for mercy, you're more than capable of course but you're his love, anyone who touches you doesn't deserve to breathe.

He saw you rest your head on your desk "you poor thing you must be so exhausted" if you accept him he would make it all better for you, he'd give you his heart and soul if everything in the world wasn't enough for you, you still don't accept his gifts, at least you don't use them anyway, most of his gifts ended up being sent back or thrown out, except his most recent gift, the lingerie set he sent you is tucked deep in your closet, this piqued his curiosity, did you actually like his gift? were you planning on using it?

His head was in the clouds by now, he was starting to be convinced that you were happy with his gift, that you were finally ready for him, that you'd maybe show up at his doorstep, his present under your clothes, his breath hitched at the thought of what he bought you touching your soft skin.

He snapped back to reality when something on the screen caught his attention, you were talking and laughing with a man as you gathered your belongings, what raised his confusion is him leading you out of the office with his hand resting on your back, were you leaving with him?

He switched to the security camera of the parking lot and sure enough, he saw you getting in a car that wasn't yours with another man. He reached for his phone inside his suit and dialed a number, the line almost immediately picks up, the person on the other line waits patiently for orders, warner doesn't hesitate before he orders in a cold flat tone "follow her" he hangs up, his dark eyes set on the screen.

'my love..who is that man?'

[armpirate]

Twisted || San

pairing: Stalker!Choi San x fem!reader

w.c.: 8.1k

Warnings: [Violence] Graphic Violence, mention of wounds and torture. [Sexual] Smut, dom!San, voyeourism, cum play, unprotected sex, name calling, oral sex (female receiving), rough sex, spanking, choking. If you're a minor, refrain from reading it. Also, if you don't like this content, just keep scrolling.

Summary: You had been getting calls and texts from a mystery number for a few months now, you even went to the lengths of installing a security alarm because you didn't feel safe anymore. If only you knew what you thought was danger was closer than you thought...

Aprox. time of reading: 36 minutes

After you stepped in your place, you started to analyze everything that met your eyes, trying to remember if it was in that exact place before you left. Small details like: was the empty vase settled perfectly in the middle of the top shelf over your TV, or was it a bit to the right? Did you set your shoes straight at the left of the door, or you left in such a hurry that you didn't bother? Maybe you were just being a little too paranoid.

Closing the door behind you, you made sure to lock it, turning the key twice, hearing the two clicks, before you took them out and also closed all the extra locks you had added for your own security. Finishing that routine with your hand pulling the knob, just to make sure the door was indeed closed.

It wasn't like something happened, but ever since you started receiving anonymous texts, you prioritized your safety more than anything else. At first, they were dumb messages you could ignore, things that any bored person would've sent to mess with the first person they came across to on social media -especially when you had all your professional sites linked to your Instagram. But those texts weren't prank calls or horny texts, that you could easily ignore and move on. No. There was something dark in them, something so personal and intimate, despite not displaying anything, that gave you goosebumps every time you dared to read them. And it only got worse when pictures were sometimes linked to them. Photos of you taken from afar, keeping a safe distance so you wouldn't be able to notice them as you did your day to day chores -something as simple as going grocery shopping, going to work or even meeting up with your family.

That person knew everything about you. Where you lived, what were your favorite places, when he'd be able to find you there... So easy to hunt.

It wasn't surprising you decided to reach out to the police, but also to one of the classmates you had in college, and that you saw every once in a long while whenever a small crew from your past colleagues decided to do a gathering to meet up and catch up with one another's lives.

You saw it clearly when one of your friends mentioned his father owned a security company and also added how San was quite good with technology, after you mentioned how there had been many robberies in your area so no one would be scandalized for what was happening to you.

Although San didn't ask a single question about it. He just installed the camera -that glared at the door, but still caught half of your couch- and the sensors in your living room, finishing his work by installing an app on your laptop and your phone, so you would have control of the security system from those devices. You weren't really surprised by his silence, because back in uni he didn't speak much either -that was why it didn't make much sense to you as to how he ended up in that group of friends either. Not like it was that important.

He was so intriguing, yet so expendable at the same time. The type of man that only got your interest while he was in front of you, because as soon as he stepped away, you completely forgot of his existence. It definitely wasn't because of his looks, at all. He was attractive. Sharp features that looked so intimidating, but also appealing at the same time. His foxy brown eyes radiated something you weren't able to tell, maybe because he never kept his eyes on you properly whenever he was in your presence. Under his clothes, you could tell he probably had a thin body -maybe more toned than what you were imagining, but that was the most your imagination could reach when it came to him. He was also tall, but not excessively, just enough to have you slightly curving your neck to look up to him when he was a bit too close.

San would be your ideal man if he only spoke more than two words in a row.

After having dinner, and making sure you've picked up everything you left around your house when you left in a hurry that morning, you decided to head to your room.

You just turned on your laptop to have some background sound while you put your clothes back in the closet, playing the first video that appeared on your recommended list on Youtube.

The sound of the notification got your heart beating fast, assuming it was one creepy picture again, but your body relaxed when you saw Chris' name on your screen, along with a suggestive pic. You smirked, placing your forearm over your chest, hiding just enough to be as suggestive as him before you snapped a picture. And while you giggled and found some joy in it, there was someone else who didn't like a single bit of what he was seeing.

San saw your half naked figure in one of the monitors, in the darkness of his room, clicking his tongue and twisting his jaw when he saw the kind of pic and text you exchanged with that guy on the other monitor. With you, it was impossible for him to know what mood he'd be in for the night. He had seen you in several different states and situations, and he swore he got more attached to you the more he observed. Except this. This was one of the things that made him want to block your phone out of nowhere, staring at your confusion and rejoicing after interrupting that short sexting time.

But he didn't. He controlled himself and just allowed you to go on, witnessing every dirty word and naughty promise you were dedicating to someone that wasn't him -but that one day it would, and he'd made sure of it.

You slipped the last piece of clothing down your legs before you kneeled in the middle of the bed, still with your phone in your hands -and judging by the intensity of the conversation, he knew what was coming next. Dragging one of the pillows where you were, straddling it, you got everything ready.

San looked at you intensely when you started grinding your hips against the fabric of your pillow, studying every move, admiring the shadows the lights from the streets created on your body, and how he was able to see how perfectly stiff your nipples were despite the distance. You placed it all facing your computer, almost as if you wanted to pull that show for him.

Chris: Are you fucking yourself with your fingers thinking it's my cock?

You: Yeah

San silently scoffed at your reply, seeing how desperately you moved your hips against the pillow.

"Liar, liar, liar" he sang, shaking his head slowly.

It didn't matter though, because you lied to another guy. He knew you wouldn't ever be able to lie to him. You would never do something like that.

Your head fell back, moving faster before you dropped your phone over the mattress. And San cheered at seeing that monitor going black in the middle of the conversation. Seeing you like that was a spectacle he loved seeing, but all those texts with someone else made it less attractive. He loved seeing you in that state, so lost in your own pleasure that you weren't aware how hard your fingers were gripping on the fabric of the covers and how your lips were perfectly parted. He had lost count of the many times he had jerked himself off to that same image, studying your orgasms throughout those weeks to be able to tell when you were close so he would finish at the same time. You always dropped a high pitched scream leave, before your lips puckered and your eyes shut tight as you orgasmed, slowly stopping your moves. San definitely enjoyed it more when you just randomly touched yourself because you watched some good porn that made it difficult to control yourself. Wet pussy in full display in front of the monitor as you slid two fingers in, or just rubbed your clit, while lazily looking down at the scenes on the screen. It felt different to what you were doing that day. He wasn't even able to enjoy it properly...

San sat on his chair, full attention on the monitors as soon as he got a notification of your alarm being disconnected. You entered abruptly in your place, hands grasping on the new guy's clothes as if you were looking to rip them off. Soon you two were completely naked, and you were straddling his lap on your couch, letting your bodies clap against one another with every move of your hips.

He just looked at you two, expressionless while he fought his need to stop what he was seeing. His phone was so close to his hand, he only had to send one of the several pics he had saved of you to know you'd stop it all.

The hard slap on your ass, followed by a groan from you, was the last straw for him. He twisted his lips, finally reaching for his phone.

It seemed like he wasn't doing his job properly if you were going to allow just anyone to step in your place. He couldn't let you be so reckless and get away with it, you just needed to be reminded of your daily risks again.

You were immersed on how you were feeling, moving your hips automatically to reach that high that was so close from you. Still humping on Chris' dick, you reached to your phone, stretching your arm behind you while he held you tight so you wouldn't lose balance. Although he didn't need to hold you for much longer, because your whole body froze over him when you looked at the screen.

Unknown: So you need more than just pics now?

That text was followed by one of the pics you sent Chris the other day, and you weren't sure how else you were supposed to react, but you rushed to stand up and cover yourself with your oversized flannel, while the brunet man just looked at you confused.

"I need you to leave" you crossed your arms over your chest.

"Leave? Now?" he smirked, thinking you were joking "I just got here".

"I don't give a fuck" you threw his clothes at him. "You think this is a game? Fine, game over. I'm done".

"What are you talking about?".

"What am I talking about? You've been sharing the pics I've sent you around" you commented, showing him the new text. "Tell your friends that it's not funny at all. You're a bunch of dickheads".

You knew Chris, you knew his circle as well, and you saw them completely capable of pulling an anonymous joke on you just for their laughs. But the fact that they did it in a time where you were so sensitive to everything got you even angrier than you'd have been before.

"You're crazy, you know that?" Chris replied, putting his clothes on. "You would've been a good fuck, but it's definitely not worth it" he stared at you. "'I'm not ready' 'I can't meet today'" he mimicked your voice. "Always leaving me with blue balls only to end up kicking me out over that bullshit. Fuck off, Y/n".

San smiled throughout the whole argument, completely ignoring the fact that you didn't even think of him when you saw the picture back in your phone. He could omit that, knowing that Chris was going to leave your apartment in the next three minutes. But his smile slowly dropped when he started speaking, mocking you and dragging you for just making him wait until you were ready. Who did he think he was to speak at you that way?

Somebody needed to be humbled.

He made sure to come back to you later that night, hands still tinted in a soft red by the blood he wasn't able to take away on the first cleanse, while his fingers traced your cheek as if it was the most delicate thing he had ever touched. Suddenly mesmerized by how peaceful you were in your sleep.

Your hair was spread over the white pillow, and your right arm stretched to the empty space next to you, making sure your body would take most part of it. And seeing you like that, he assured again he would never allow anyone else to treat you the way Chris did a few hours before. He broke his hands for ever thinking he was enough to touch you, and did the same with his jaw for even thinking the words he aimed at you.

You would always be safe.

It had been a few days since you last heard of Chris. And just like him, the anonymous text and weird calls also disappeared. You were quite used to relating everything to coincidences, but that one just seemed a bit too suspicious to ignore it.

It didn't matter though. You were finally able to breathe.

Moving around your apartment, you stopped when you were finally done cleaning the house. The fresh scent made you excitedly jump in your place, happy to be able to enjoy that delicate smell before it disappeared with your nose getting used to it.

San unconsciously smiled when he witnessed the way you moved in the same place, letting the elastic of your shorts raise accidentally from your hips to your waist with every small jump.

He thought he was going to be enjoying another show from you, taking your clothes off in the middle of the living room while you made your way to the bathroom. But all his hopes were interrupted by the sound of your phone.

Grace.

Reading that name instantly made him roll his eyes. She was a pain in the ass whenever they hung out, always trying to keep you away from him, moving around you like a satellite to make sure he wouldn't get close enough to start a conversation.

And if only she was interesting enough to keep a conversation through the phone... But no, she was as obnoxious and priggish, even when he wasn't seeing her face. The tone of her voice allowed him to picture perfectly the shape of her face moving with her words, and that was the only time he allowed himself to disconnect from you. At least until his name casually dropped in the conversation.

"San? What about him?" you asked, supporting yourself on the back of the couch.

You didn't know why she was suddenly sneaking his name in the conversation, when you two were talking about how Chris suddenly disappeared after being a complete asshole to you.

"I think he has a crush on you" she giggled.

Frowning, unable to tell whether she was right or not, you tried to know why she thought that "You think so?".

You were aware of some of the glances he aimed at you while you weren't looking, whenever you two hung out with the group. But you never thought too deep about it.

"No" Grace cackled, making San move uncomfortably on his seat. "He's so weird it's hard to tell what goes through his head. I bet he has never gotten his dick wet".

"You say that because he has never tried to fuck you like Sam and Will" you rolled your eyes. "I just think we might not be his type, and that's okay. He's fine though, whoever ends up with him will land in heaven".

"Really?"

San's jaw clenched with every new comment Grace made. It was as if she couldn't deal with the fact that you were praising him.

"Really" you nodded.

There was a silence between you that made him uncomfortable, as if the next thing that would be said was meant to change his plans completely.

And he wasn't wrong.

"I've been good, maybe I need a bit of heaven"

"My god... what do you mean?"

"I think I like him".

"You make no sense" you scoffed, although he wasn't able to tell if it was due to tiredness or you were suddenly upset about something. "You like him but you were throwing dirt on him?"

"You said he was fine. Of course I needed to throw dirt on him".

"Because I have eyes" you placed your hand on your hip. "You were the one who asked".

"Also, you should've heard yourself when I said he has a crush on you. Do you still have a crush on him?".

San suddenly looked confused at the monitor, trying to read your exhausted expression before you turned, back facing the camera.

"That was years ago" you assured her. "You know what would've happened at the Christmas party. Like I said, we're not his type. So it was for the better that he didn't show up".

Were you talking about the Christmas party a few people in your class organized to get to know each other? If he had known you were feeling that way about him, he'd have attended no matter what.

His brain was working the fastest it had ever worked, trying to wrap himself around the idea that you would be his in that exact moment if he had gone to the party. And it only got worse when he remembered the reason he didn't go: Grace. She told him you weren't feeling comfortable around him, and that was also why he tried to get closer to your group of friends the next months -although he couldn't stand a single one of them. He tried to be more approachable for you, only to be part of a shitty group of friends and have you more distant and disinterested in him than before.

If he ever thought he hated the several guys you introduced to them in those three years, he was proved what real hate was in that moment. Rage took control of his body, finding himself picking up the keyboard just to crash it against the desk, not caring in the slightest for the several keys flying around with every hit he made.

If she wanted to mess with him, it was fine. He'd mess with her, too.

You looked for Grace all night. Going from one group of people to another, trying to get to know where the hell she was. It wasn't the first time she left you hanging and made you handle all by yourself everything that was related to your birthday party.

You never expected much from her in general, but missing your birthday party? That was a new low for her, especially when she encouraged you to drop a party that you didn't even want in the first place.

Hopeful that the message you received was from her, when you felt your phone buzzing in your hand, you unlocked the screen. Only to feel your heart squeeze in your chest when you realized it wasn't Grace, and it wasn't a message supposed to make you happy either.

Unknown: I'm getting closer to you. No one will tear us apart

The promise in those words got your hairs raising, your whole body was only able to pay attention to that text while you ignored everything that was going on around you. Your friends slowly disappeared, the music started to vanish until it turned to sounds with no rhythm.

A hand on your shoulder brought you back to reality, making your body squirm slightly as you turned ready to fight. Both of his eyebrows raised with concern, trying to calm you down at the same time he took a step back.

"I didn't mean to scare you" he assured you, while one of his gentle hands stroke your upper arm.

"Don't worry" you shook your head. "I don't really know why I reacted that way" you shyly mentioned, scratching your temple.

"I mean, I know I'm not the hottest, but to the point of scaring you..." he teased you, suddenly grinning. Calm at seeing you sigh and light a smile, he spoke again "Happy birthday, Y/n".

Something in his attitude shifted. You weren't complaining at all, but it wasn't the way San usually acted around you. He tended to be more serious, and distant. And today he was close and cheerful, you'd dare to say he even seemed flirty.

"Did you come alone?"

"Yeah" he nodded, both hands peeking inside the pockets of his dark jeans. "Who would I come with?".

"I don't know. A girlfriend?" you joked. And you regretted your own words, because why the thought of him having someone else was making your stomach twist that way "Or maybe a colleague. I didn't say you couldn't bring any people".

"I think it'll be enough with you" he playfully mentioned.

You looked down while smiling, trying to hide how hard your cheeks were burning for his words.

"Want to get some fresh air?" he invited you, bending over you a bit so he'd be able to whisper in your cheek "I got you a present".

San was the first one in that party that thought about getting you something for your day. At that point, he could've bought you a pair of socks, and you'd be treasuring that detail for the rest of your life.

You both made your way out of the club, only hearing the drowned music behind you whenever the big door closed behind the people that either came in or out. He handed you the shiny box that he had left at the wardrobe, waiting for your reaction while you broke the wrapping paper. "You really didn't have to".

Instead of answering, San just shook his head, waiting for your face when you finally opened the white box and saw what was inside of it.

It was a vintage well-crafted music box. The same one you had been looking for for years. You touched every small pearl, every golden detail, amused with the idea of finally having it in your hands. He could've bought the basic version, that only had a sun at the top, but instead he made his way to the upgraded one -the same one you gave up on because of how expensive it was.

Biting your lip, you moved the key in circles, until you reached the top and just let it turn by itself, hearing the automated and slow sound that came from it.

"How did you know?"

"I heard you mentioning it one of the times we hung out with the group" he answered ", and also when I installed the security system".

Clearly, he lied. He couldn't tell you he saw what you were looking at on your phone on one monitor, while he spied on you with the other.

"I wasn't sure if you'd like this one..." he lied, trying to make it less weird.

"You kidding? It's the one I've been saving up money for" you closed the box. "Thank you so much".

You two weren't close. You were a touchy person, in general, but never with San. But that day your arms wrapped around his neck instinctively, while you stood in your tiptoes, trying to feel him as close as possible. Unlike what you expected, San wrapped his arms around your waist, bringing you closer, hiding his face in the crook of your neck. It was a simple touch, but your whole body reacted when you felt his lips on your shoulder.

You didn't let him move away from you, your lips met his before he was able to stand properly. A soft and chaste kiss, a simple rub of your mouth that got San floating, just to fall back to the ground when you moved back.

"I'm sorry" you quickly apologized, moving away. "I didn't know... It was a mistake".

"Really?" he tilted his head, while his eyes looked harshly at you.

"I can't do this"

"Why?"

"I can't do this to Grace" you whispered, remembering how she confessed her feelings to him not even a few days ago.

"And who gives a fuck about her?"

Those were his last words before he pulled you back into a kiss, hands gripping your neck to make sure you wouldn't move away again. Guilt only stayed with you for a few seconds, the time it took him to suck on your lower lip with such delicacy and slowness that made your knees go weak.

His lips were demanding, yet soft and careful, on yours. You were so receptive to what he was giving you, that he thought he was dreaming. Finally having his hands on you, while his tongue dug in your mouth, trying to discover every corner in it. Your back arched instantly when he set your neck free, hands moving down your torso, until he was cupping your ribs, thumbs ghosting the edge of your breasts.

"You taste so fucking good" he groaned against your lips. "So so fucking good, Y/n".

He meant every single word, finally living what he had been fantasizing about for years. And you topped his expectations, wrapping your arms around his shoulders and playing with his hair while he moved down to your jaw and finally sank his mouth on your neck.

"San" you sighed, head automatically moving to the side so he'd have better access to that spot. "We can't..." you found yourself battling with your own voice to get the words out properly "Not here".

At that point, he didn't care where to do it, or how many people were watching. He just wanted to be buried deep in you, and mark you as his like he had been dreaming of for so long.

"Let's go to your place"

San sucked on your neck slower when he heard your idea. His house was the last place he wanted you to be at that moment, not when there were so many things he needed to keep from you.

"I think it'd be better to go to your house instead" he tried to make you change your mind.

"It's a mess. I doubt we'll be able to find the bed there"

He knew, he saw the way you dropped your clothes all over the place every time you change clothes because the outfits weren't convincing enough, and he saw how you gave one last regretful look before you closed the door behind you.

"I can fuck you somewhere else" he joked.

"Let's just go to your place" you grabbed his wrist. "I've never been there, and I'm curious".

If there was a way to really know someone, it was getting inside their home and being able to see every small detail that could give away their personality and habits. You had been in most of your friends' houses, but despite knowing San for three years, you had never been in his.

When you bit his lip and pulled it in between your teeth while looking him in the eye, he wondered how he was supposed to resist what you wanted. There was no way he would ever be able to say no to you.

He only had to keep you away from one room. That was it.

You were aware of how tense he suddenly was on your way there, his hands were rigid on his lap while he kept his eyes away from you. It was as if he was back at his usual self, completely forgetting the man he pretended to be back in the party.

"If you're really uncomfortable about it, we can go to your place another day. I didn't mean to pressure you".

San landed his eyes on you. You were definitely the sweetest person he had ever met, a living ray of sunshine wherever you went. Maybe that was what drew him to you the first time he saw you with that big smile in class.

"I don't usually take girls home"

You knew he wasn't sharing his apartment with more people, he lived completely by himself. So your heart softened at the idea that, maybe, he wasn't really the type to do one night stands.

"I promise I'll make it worth it" you whispered against his lips.

"You already are" he assured you.

He kissed you again, pinching your chin to keep your face up in his direction, while his other hand moved over your thigh, hiding in the back of your knee. You thought you'd be having a hot make out session in the back of the back, but he broke the kiss when you were about to slide your tongue in your mouth.

"I can't get enough of you, angel"

One of the reasons that kept him from moving closer to you was how afraid he was of going so deep he wouldn't be able to escape. If he ever got the taste of you, he wouldn't ever want to give up on you. But he was already trapped. The first year, he tried to focus on other girls, but you were the only one that kept showing up in his head every time he tried to. And by the second year, he was too far gone. He needed to know absolutely everything about you, it wasn't enough with the superficial talk you had whenever you met up by chance. And you served yourself in a silver plate when you gave him access to your house and all your devices. It was as if you wanted him to know everything about you.

San was sweet and gentle with you the second you two stepped in his apartment. He went slow and easy on you, treating you like you were the most delicate thing he had ever crossed ways with.

His tongue traced every curve of your body, as if he wanted to keep them with him forever. He hugged you tight, and hid his face in the curve of your neck every time he pounded into you, feeling in heaven with every squeeze of your walls. He then knew you were definitely made for him. You woke up in the middle of the night, turning to San to find him peacefully sleeping while his hand held your neck with care. You were convinced you were over him, but your old self was jumping excited in your head, still not able to process you finally got to sleep with the man you fantasized about.

Maybe you should've stayed in bed and got back to sleep, but you suddenly felt uneasy and uncomfortable, forced to get up. You moved slowly, trying not to wake San up before you made your way outside to look for the bathroom.

Unlike in your place, there wasn't a bathroom inside his bedroom, so you had to look into the first door you saw as soon as you walked outside in the dark. You wanted to step back and move to the only door left, but something about that room dragged you in.

The small light from the computer tower lit the room vaguely, only allowing you to see some squared shapes.

Maybe you should've just ignored it, and closed the door behind you while you looked for the bathroom, but the fact that you barely knew anything about San -and the thought of that possibly allowing you to know more- encouraged you to step in.

You were expecting some nerdy things. Maybe that was the "dude room" where he kept his funkos, his anime dolls and the eight seasons of Game of Thrones on DVD. But you felt your blood stop running through your veins when you switched the lights on. In front of you, there was a wall filled with pics of you, you could even recognize some of those pictures because he had sent them to you to scare you. Some of those pics were the cause you installed the security alarm in your house.

Walking towards the computer, you were scared of what you'd find there. You lost balance for a hot second, feeling your body falling backwards when you saw your empty living room in one of the screens, while the other two were completely black.

"I didn't know you were this nosy, angel"

His deep voice filled the silence in the room, falling heavy on your back before you found the courage to turn around and face him. That soft and gentle gaze was gone, and was replaced by an icy look you had never seen before on anyone.

"What's all this?"

"Do you really need me to explain it to you?" his right eyebrow raised, looking down at you ironically. "I think it's quite obvious".

"All this time... It was you?" you could've run, but your back was glued to the desk.

"All this time" he nodded, taking one final step in your direction. "But you're finally where you belong".

He tried to reach your cheek with the reverse of his fingers, but you moved away, avoiding his touch while your eyes were still on his. San's smile widened after your reaction.

"That's how you knew about the music box..." you frowned, realizing how deep in your intimacy and privacy he'd gone to watch you.

"I know everything about you" he continued. "I even know about the people that hurt you when you were too blind to see it.

And, suddenly, a few names started crossing your mind. But San spoke before you could take a guess.

"Remember that guy... " he supported his weight on the edge of the desk, caging you "Johnny, was it? I don't know when he thought that crossing any boundaries with you would give him a happy ending" San scoffed.

He was probably one of the longest flings, and the one that got you in that weird situation where you thought you were finally over San. Although he ended up making you be done with men in general during one of your dates, when he didn't understand that you rathered to go home to suck his dick, rather than doing it behind one of the bushes in the middle of the night. The next day, he showed up with his face full of bruises and wounds, with his right hand bandaged, and with his apologies written down in paper because he wasn't able to speak properly.

Seeing your realizing gaze, San continued "Chris had the same fate" he clicked his tongue. "He didn't understand that he needed to treat you right if he wanted to be around you, so I had to break his other hand to get him to understand". He bent closer to you, letting his warm breath coat your chin "And don't even get me started on Grace. She played you, and fooled you into thinking I didn't like you because she knew I would never like her back".

"What did you do to her?"

"There's only one way to get liars to stop telling lies" that dark smile was back at it again. "Remember that scene in the House of Wax?".

Of course you remembered. Your whole body squirmed at the sensation of feeling your lips glued together, and only being able to separate them in the most hurtful way possible, while you watched the movie at night by yourself a few weeks ago.

"She really thought she could get in between you and me, and that I'd let it go so easily" he shook his head. "She now knows I'd do anything to keep you".

You should've been scared for yourself, you should've been thinking of the several ways to get out of there safely and make it to the nearest police station, but you stood there, staring into his eyes, finding some type of amusement in his words. You had heard several boys telling you exactly what he said, although most of them were either desperate to get inside your pants or were on a countdown for their climax. But San seemed so honest about it, so captivating that everything else suddenly disappeared.

"Anything?"

San was surprised by your question, confused by the tone you were using, and intrigued by the way your eyes landed on his. You raised your chin, leaving the scared deer one behind, to face him and mirror a tiny bit of his confident presence.

"Whatever you want, angel"

You looked over your shoulder, body feeling a bit hotter when you thought of the things he might've seen while looking at that same screen.

"I think it's time to stop looking at that screen, isn't it?" you turned to him.

"You aren't scared?"

His brows furrowed slightly while asking that question, doubting whether you were serious or just pulling an act to run away as soon as he let his guard down. And you were at first. But the more he spoke, the more he explained, the faster you realized he was never thinking of landing a hand on you. He could've if he had wanted to. He had several occasions, and many ways to do so. But he always kept a safe distance, always looking at you from afar.

"Should I?" you challenged him.

"Never".

You smiled, getting closer to him while standing in your tiptoes, just to be able to rub your lips on his earlobe.

"I know you're twisted" you whispered in his ear. "But, baby, you have no idea how twisted I can be, too. Maybe you didn't watch me for long enough"

Unlike all the kisses you shared tonight, there was some fury in this new kiss. He cupped your cheeks harshly, keeping you still in place while his lips moved speedily and expected yours to keep his pace. His tongue twirled on yours when he invaded your mouth with no previous warning, and your toes almost curled when the tip traced your palate smoothly.

"I've controlled myself too much tonight" he informed you with a raspy voice.

"It was too mild for someone who's been waiting for this for three years" you challenged him.

"Angel, you're going to regret ever saying that" he assured you, hands gripping tight on your thighs. "There will be nothing left of you when I'm done" he lifted your body, placing you on top of his deck. "You think you can challenge me to break this tiny pussy of yours and get away with it easily? Things don't work like that".

He hummed, looking down at your body. His fingers raised the fabric of his t-shirt, softly caressing your naked skin with his tips as he moved it up. He hummed when he had you completely naked in front of him, just that it was a billion times better than the first time. Because you were looking at the real him, and you were even more turned on than you were earlier that night.

His palm covered your pussy, rubbing against your clit, before his mouth was pulling from your hard nipple. There was something more dangerous than him and everything he did, and it was the way he was looking up at you while his tongue lewdly moved around your hand button. His teeth pulled from it, earning a sudden whine as he pulled harder than you expected, changing to your other nipple to do the right same thing.

San moved back, sinking two fingers in you suddenly, having you holding onto the edge of his desk so your body wouldn't fall back over the monitors. A few seconds later, the squeaking sounds, along with his groans and your gasps filled the room.

"You're mine forever, Y/n. Right?" he grabbed your jaw harshly, forcing you to look at him through your needy pleasure. "I won't ever let you go, and you won't ever leave my side".

Your head instantly nodded with no control when he curved his fingers in you, stroking that right spot until you lost any control of your body, doing and saying everything he wanted and needed.

"Aren't you my good and obedient girl?" he added his thumb on your clit, giving your brain a hard time trying to process everything that was going on.

Your humming and nods weren't enough anymore. He gave you a soft slap on your cheek, trying to get you to react and be vocal so he'd hear what he wanted to at that moment. "I am" you moaned, arching your hips for him.

"That's right, making me so proud" he bit your chin, before you suddenly felt empty again.

San didn't wait for you to be ready, or to see coming the way he was going to shove his fingers down your throat to suck them clean, to fill you again with his dick when you least expected, moaning on his fingers and sending vibrations through his body to his shaft.

You held onto his wrist with one of your hands, thinking that'd make it easier to deal with the impact of his hips against yours, but it didn't. His cock rubbed against every spot in you, and you believed you were in heaven every time his pubes collided against your exposed clit at the same time he reached the deepest spot.

"Did the others fuck you this good?" he wanted to know, taking his fingers out of your mouth to hold your jaw again. "Tell me".

"No" you moaned, not processing the few seconds you felt empty before he was pounding into you again.

"The hoe days are over for you. You're only getting my cock from now on. You understand that?" he harshly said.

Your head moved fast, nodding desperately to his words. He grinned with pride, content with seeing you in such a state because of him.

You whined when he stopped, pulling out and making you feel empty again. Although he didn't give you time to protest, because he trapped your lips in his smoothly, making sure no sound would come from you. Your body moved with his hands, feeling it being dragged to the edge until your feet were touching the cold ground again.

"Turn around" San demanded you, hard eyes on you "I want you to see something".

You were facing the monitors again, feeling his warm body covering your back while he looked for something in the computer. His arms were caging you again, while his lips rubbed on your shoulder, inviting you to look at the front and enjoy the view he had been having ever since he installed the security alarm.

You should've been disgusted and horrified by the way he had control over every tiny bit of your life, managing to watch you even in places where he should've had access at first. But your heart pumped hard against your rib cage, and you could feel your own juices leaking, when you saw yourself on camera. You were turned on by the idea of San watching you while you enjoyed yourself, humping against the pillow until you turned into a moaning mess.

"You should be ashamed of making me feel jealous of a fuckass pillow" he whispered in your ear. "I would've showed up in five and fuck your brains out just how you so badly wanted".

He separated your legs, exposing your entrance before he was back in you completely, having you holding onto the surface for support. His skin clapped loudly against yours with each thrust, making the audio from the video disappear completely, overlapped with his groans and your hushed moans.

Your legs felt lighter when he changed the angle, adjusting himself to reach a spot that would make it difficult for you to stand for any longer.

"Keep watching yourself" he redirected your eyes to the screen ", pathetically grinding against a pillow because you couldn't get what you're having now".

The hard slap on your asscheek sent a shivering all over your body, but only made your hips move harder against his. Your lower belly hit harshly against the edge of the table, getting the monitor to shake, but you couldn't care less about the slight pain you were starting to feel when his hand on your throat, his breath on your neck, and his cock balls deep in you were the only things in your mind in that moment.

"Angel, you want to be sent back to heaven?" he bit on your shoulder, hand grasping on your flesh as he calmed down his thrusts.

You didn't care where he sent you to, as long as you were able to keep that reclaimed and wanted feeling. Nothing else was important, nothing else mattered, as long as you had San willing to do anything for you, ignoring the lengths he'd go just to get it.

"Am I fucking you so dumb you aren't able to answer?" he forced your eyes on his, wailing silently when your neck hurted by the sudden move. "Do you want me to send you back to heaven?".

Your fast breathing and your own gasps were making it almost impossible for you to answer back his question. "I don't care" you moaned "I just want to be with you".

San smiled, pleased with the unexpected answer, before he rewarded you with a kiss. One of his hands moved up your chest, trapping your nipple with two of his fingers while his other hand moved down your body, slick fingers finding your clit and rubbing it in circles in sync with the slow movements of his hips.

"Once I fill you up, it's done, angel. There will be no turning back" he grunted on your lips. "Your pussy will be only mine to fill".

"Yes, please".

He bit on your lower lip, buckling his hips and starting a mind-blowing pace that got you cutting your own breathing with each thrust, always being interrupted with a new moan emerging from the deepest part of your body. You were caged, trapped, completely filled with his dick, held by his two hands -and also grinding against one of them-, while his teeth were digging on your skin as if you were actually planning to leave in the middle of that.

You felt so unstable that not even the table was a good support for you, reaching for both of his wrists to hold onto while your vision went blurry with every new rub. Your body was malfunctioning, feeling completely hot, finding the only focus on San until something similar to a bomb blew in your head. Your constant high-pitched moans turned into a long loud one that harmonized perfectly with his guttural groan when he spilled his seed inside of you, hugging you as if you were going to disappear after that.

His head fell heavily on your shoulder, as you two tried to regain some oxygen back to your lungs. Soft kisses were spread all over the curve of your shoulder, moving down to your back, tracing your spine with care until you felt his lips at the curve of one of your ass cheeks. He made sure to curve your hips enough, able to spot his cum leaking through your slit.

Your body reacted by itself at the first contact of his tongue, moving away from it, only to be pulled back against his mouth by his hands. The tip sometimes teased your swollen clit, although his full attention was in your entrance, covering it as much as he could. It was only a few seconds after that he was back on his feet, making you turn around and linking your lips together. Your bitter flavor was mixed with his salty one on your tongue, and he just waited for you to swallow it to finally smile against your lips.

"Good girl".

Your body flew in the air as he lifted you up, holding you in his arms to make your way out of his secret room and take you back to his bedroom. It was impressive how San was looking after you with such care after everything that happened back then.

His heat was suddenly on each part of your body as he hugged you tight in bed. Again, making sure you would never leave.

Not like you were planning to, anyway.

"Thank you" he whispered, and although you were trying to guess what his next words would be, you were speechless for what he said. "Thank you for being better than my expectations. You mold to me so perfectly, and make things so easy".

Was there any difference between you two, though? You wished and hoped to do to people what he did to those who hurt you. You remembered all the things that crossed your mind whenever a girl dared to look in his direction back in college, or how you wanted Grace to swallow her phone for ever thinking of him as someone she could sleep with. The only difference between you two is that he never kept it as thoughts only, and turned each one of his feelings into actions.

"You could've kept this all a secret if we had gone to my house instead".

"I don't want to keep any secrets from you" he assured you "Nothing. And I don't want you to keep any secrets from me either. It's us against the world, angel, and I will never allow anyone or anything to tear us apart" sliding his hand through your hair, curving on your neck, his eyes looked intensely at you.

"Understood?"

[mariacallous]

Drones, snipers, razor wire, sniffer dogs, body armor, bulletproof glass, and 24-hour armed security.

This is not a list of protections in place for a visit by the president of the United States nor the contents of a shipment to frontline troops fighting in Ukraine. This is a list of the security measures election officials in counties across the US have had to implement ahead of Tuesday’s vote as a result of the unprecedented threats they have faced in recent years.

Officials are putting in place the typical final measures to ensure the smooth operation of an election, but beyond checking that they have enough ballots and that machines are working properly, officials are now faced with having to monitor for threats and make sure they have done everything they can to protect themselves and their staff.

“Given the current political environment, the possibility that an event may occur has increased, and our election professionals have responded in kind,” says Tammy Patrick, a former election official in Arizona’s Maricopa County who is now a senior adviser at the nonprofit Bolstering Elections Initiative. “Efforts focusing on the physical security of the voters, election workers, and staff by putting in bulletproof glass, panic buttons, razor wire, and fencing are fairly common, as is the installation of surveillance cameras and systems, cyber protections, and training on de-escalation techniques and response drills.”

Nowhere in the US is the militarization of the election process more evident than in Maricopa County.

The fourth largest county in the nation, Maricopa became ground zero for election denial conspiracists in recent years, after GOP lawmakers sanctioned a bogus recount in 2021, run by the Florida company Cyber Ninjas.

As a result, the county has for years been putting increased security measures in place. “We're a fortress now,” Stephen Richer, the Maricopa County Recorder, told WIRED back in February, outlining how he had to navigate security fencing, metal detectors, and security checks in order to get into his office.

As the 2024 election approaches, the measures Maricopa officials are putting in place have been ratcheted up significantly.

Officials have added a second layer of security fencing to protect election offices, as well as concrete k-rails, which means election workers will be bused in from offsite locations due to reduced parking spaces. At the country’s tabulation center, every door will be fitted with metal detectors, floodlights will be installed, and on election day the center will be protected by a ring of snipers deployed on roofs around the building, election officials told NBC.

There will also be mounted police on standby outside the building, round-the-clock armed security, and drones in flight over the building, monitoring for approaching threats. The entire election office building is also covered in security cameras that livestream everything online for anyone to watch, a security measure that doubles as a way of offering transparency into its election process.

“The security and safety of our elections and those that help conduct them are paramount in ensuring a smooth election process,” Taylor Kinnerup, communications director for the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office, tells WIRED. “Since January of 2021, our office has increased badge security access, installed permanent barriers, and added additional cybersecurity measures based on the recommendations of law enforcement and other experts.”

The threats against election workers spiked in the wake of the 2020 election, spurred on by Donald Trump’s baseless allegations that the election was stolen. While the threats receded somewhat in between election cycles, they have picked up again in recent months.

WIRED revealed earlier this month that the Department of Homeland Security has issued a series of reports to government agencies warning about the “heightened risk” of right-wing extremists carrying out attacks around the election.

Just last week, the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force announced charges against four men for threats they made against election officials. “The fact that election workers need to be worried about their security is incomprehensible and unacceptable,” FBI director Chris Wray said in a statement about the threats.

Some of the charges relate to threats made back in 2022; as a result, election officials have been preparing for years for next week’s vote. Since the beginning of last year, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has conducted over 1,000 voluntary physical security assessments at election offices.

One of these assessments was conducted in Pennsylvania’s Luzerne County in late August, with officials from CISA and Homeland Security recommending that barriers be installed to prevent cars from ramming into the ground floor of the building housing the county’s election offices in Wilkes Barre.

“This is a measure taken to safeguard staff, the public, and the ballots,” Luzerne County manager Romilda Crocamo told local TV station WVIA earlier this month as workers installed boulders along the front of the building.

Crocamo also said the county had decided against using drop boxes because they could not adequately protect them. This week, multiple drop boxes in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, were set on fire in incidents police say were linked.

In addition to protecting the buildings where election staff work, some high-profile election officials have had to protect themselves.

Arizona secretary of state Adrian Fontes, the top election official in his state, revealed on Monday that he regularly wears a bulletproof vest after a series of threats were posted online and included his home address. In Adams County, Colorado, the county clerk and recorder Josh Zygielbaum has also been advised by local police to wear body armor after someone followed him home after a recent local election.

Zygielbaum recently told USA Today that he has taken the advice and now wears one every day. He has previously used militaristic phrases like “harden the office as a target” to describe his efforts to beef up security, which has included the installation of panic buttons under every desk

Tate Fall, Cobb County, Georgia’s election director, has also installed panic buttons that link directly to emergency services after a poll worker reported an agitated voter during this year’s presidential primary who was carrying a gun.

In some cases, new election offices have been built since the last election, including ones in California’s Los Angeles County and Durham County, North Carolina. These have been built with security in mind and feature bulletproof glass, security cameras, and doors that will open only with the right credentials.

In Los Angeles County, they are also deploying trained sniffer dogs to screen all the mail coming into election offices after a surge in letters sent to officials containing white powder, several of which have tested positive for fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that can be deadly even in small doses.

As a result, most election offices across the country have Narcan kits on hand, and officials have been trained on how to administer the drug in the case of an accidental opioid overdose. Taking things a step further, in Durham County’s new election office, they have constructed a dedicated mail-sorting room that features a separate exhaust system to prevent potentially hazardous substances contaminating the rest of the office.

“Election workers now need to be experts in security, cybersecurity, public health, and public relations, while handling drastically more information requests and recounts,” Adam Hinds, former Massachusetts state senator and current CEO of the nonprofit Edward M. Kennedy Institute, tells WIRED. “One problem is they are already stretched in terms of funding and resources. As election administration receives more attention, our election workers deserve the resources necessary.”

[gracemain919]

The Eye in the Sky:

(The Fungus Universe)

Tw: Yandere, Heavy stalking.

Life with the Eye in the Sky

(Kinda short)

It’s kinda unsettling. When you were first getting used to the fact a whole military site has gone insane for you. This also came with the added bonus of the surprise that you started feeling afraid just by simply existing. Every breath you took was watched, even in the privacy of your room you knew there were eyes.

Speakers were also installed in every room, and an annoyingly professional voice always gave you orders or how he liked to say ‘suggestions’.

“Y/n, breakfast is being served in the cafeteria”

“Y/n don't forget to take a shower”

“Y/n don’t try to the break the cameras… we will simply fix them”.

Truly insufferable. Every step you took was either watched by the man himself or his team and they were just as unbearable. You could only pray that something goes terribly wrong, either an attack or a security breach. Maybe that will distract the Eye in the Sky for just long enough so that you can take a shower in peace or maybe other things *cough cough* probably masturbate *cough cough* without the fear of being watched.

Still such crises don't happen often so you should probably get used to not having an ounce of privacy in your life. Don't worry, he isn't a snitch, or is he?

[valtsv]

okay idk about you but i always thought my paranoia was, like, normal, because every time i say "yeah im paranoid almost contantly" people are like "lol yeah me too." but recently i actually went on about it in more detail (someone installed cameras in my house, someone is in the backseat of my car, someone hacked my phone and is looking at everything i do, etc.) and only THEN am i told that they dont have specific worries like that?? what even is paranoia anymore. how much is normal

i'm not any kind of licensed professional but i guess it really depends on how much it affects your life? i mean, we do live in a world where surveillance is increasingly normalized and encouraged both in real life and online, so it's "normal" in the sense that most people would reasonably be affected by that. but if it interferes with your life to the point of causing major obstructions in your day to day behavior, then i'd say that isn't "normal" in the sense that your quality of life is being significantly impaired by it. it's not right regardless that paranoia is simultaneously stigmatized (through mentalities like "if you have nothing to hide then you have nothing to fear") and encouraged (through surveillance and lack of privacy), but you might be more acutely affected than most people. what you described about the cameras and your phone sounds like paranoia to me, HOWEVER i really can't "diagnose" you as such, especially based on an anon ask and nothing else. you're not alone, though, and it is possible to feel more comfortable and secure by recognizing the issue and discussing it with people you trust, if you have any, and learning more about how to cope with your thoughts and feelings. paranoia is a very isolating condition, but speaking from experience talking to people and building strong relationships helps immensely. it's hard work, but very rewarding. i hope whatever happens you are able to find support and understanding.

[honestgrins]

kc + caroline has MANY complaints about klaus but her biggest one is that the only time he responds to her follow up emails is to ask whether something is illegal

Per My Last Email || Klaroline

Weirdly canon-esque, and I have no defense. But we all know Klaus would be Caroline's neediest client.

.

Dear Mr. Mikaelson:

Per the agreement you signed, my services have been retained for legal representation on your accumulated traffic tickets ONLY. Please note that these emails fall under attorney-client privilege, but you should still avoid excessive details that would test my standing as an officer of the court. I trust that you will respect my professional boundaries, as difficult as that will be for you. To make sure I have all the relevant information at hand, please forward me the details of your current ID, vehicle descriptions, and all license numbers. 

As your court date is tomorrow, please respond as soon as possible. Otherwise, I would highly recommend paying your tickets before 9 a.m. via the online portal. My retainer fee, however, is nonrefundable.

ID, vehicle descriptions, and license numbers, ASAP.

Best,

Caroline Forbes Salvatore

Attorney, MF Group

.

Sweetheart, settle a bet for me. Kol insists his baseball bat is considered a deadly weapon, but surely it's just the force with which he can wield the bat that makes it deadly - therefore, its presence alone cannot be considered "assault with a deadly weapon."

A speedy answer would be appreciated, I just noticed the local bar installed a security camera that may limit your legal arguments after the fact.

x

.

And don't think I didn't notice the "Salvatore" in your signature. 

I did.

x

.

Dear Mr. Mikaelson,

My married name is registered with the state bar association and a matter of public record. In fact, my ability to practice in Louisiana is predicated on the fact that "Caroline Forbes Salvatore" holds a valid law degree and active license. If you have a problem with that, please feel free to retain other representation.

That said, I do want to remind you that I may advise on hypothetical legal scenarios, but will not abet any illegal activity such as assault with a deadly weapon. The threatening manner in which you imply your brother might wield a baseball bat, hypothetically, would be enough to enhance any assault charges possibly caught on camera.

As your lawyer, I don't recommend putting these hypotheticals in writing, and I really don't recommend letting Kol loose on New Orleans with a bat. Hypothetically, the whole city has cameras and it's a miracle certain activities haven't come to light. Yet.

Since you failed to send me the necessary details before your court date, I asked Elijah. You're welcome for getting the parking tickets dismissed, by the way, even though your behavior in court was detrimental to your case. The judge was not amused by your sense of humor, and neither was I. To prevent a repeat performance, I would suggest storing your luxury sports car in your massive compound instead of literally the middle of a pedestrian plaza. Just a thought.

Elijah has also taken care of your court fees and my incidentals since I had to void your last payment. Next time, please just pay the invoice. You don't tip your lawyer.

Best, 

Caroline Forbes Salvatore

Attorney, MF Group

.

Love - quick question. Rebekah is throwing a bit of a tantrum and stole the doppelgänger blood I had stored. Is this a civil suit situation, or can I press criminal charges? Honestly, I think she'd have a lark in prison, but I think the inconvenience would be consequence enough for her to feel my ire.

x

.

Mr. Mikaelson,

Again, I'm sure this is a hypothetical situation where your sister, who lives in your shared family domicile and therefore has rights to whatever is stored inside, takes something of no actual value, such as human blood stored for medical study and nothing else, then - hypothetically - a grown man with substantial resources like yourself can surely see that neither a civil suit nor criminal charges would be wise to file. None of those details of a...supernatural...sort would belong in the public record.

Not to mention, sending your sister to prison would only get me and several other people killed.

Hypothetically.

Seriously, I'm too busy for this, and I'm not even on retainer anymore. I will be sending Elijah an invoice for this email communication.

Best,

Caroline Forbes Salvatore

Attorney, MF Group

.

I've wired a retainer fee directly to your account. And since you're on the payroll, I have some paperwork to go through. Working dinner? I'll buy.

x

.

Caroline: Klaus, you cannot send me a million dollars in a personal check. 

Klaus: Clearly, I can. Dinner?

Caroline: ...

Caroline: ...

Klaus: I'm thinking Italian. 

Caroline: If you think this counts as a retainer fee, I do not have the time to explain how wrong you are, but I will if I have to. To be clear, that is a threat, and you know I will follow through, complete with slide deck and appendices. If you would indeed like to retain my services for the family, Elijah and I have already worked through an initial contract with LIMITS, you absolute ass. All official business will go through him, I swear, or you will regret it. 

Caroline: Again, that is a threat.

Klaus: So, see you at eight?

Caroline: ...

Caroline: I'm donating the money you sent.

Caroline: But yeah, Italian sounds good.

Klaus: Change your email signature.

Caroline: Don't push it.

[fxckn-sxck-fr]

ARE YOU KIDDING?? PLATONIC YANDERE BATTINSON HEADCANNONS PULEASE 💕 💕

𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐍����𝐂 𝐘𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒…

!!! GN reader, stalking, breaking and entering, hidden cameras, kidnapping, I feel really bad for Alfred…

Sorry if this is egregiously long and disorderly, I just have a lot of ideas with this one.

There’s a possibility the two of you barely know each other. Maybe you’re a worker at Wayne Enteprises, or just a stranger on the street who did a kind gesture to him once. He’s the type to get a friend-crush — where he wants to be your friend, but he’s too shy to actually talk to you — so naturally the next logical step is to follow you around all day to figure out where you live. This would honestly be the longest Bruce Wayne has ever been out in public during the daytime, granted in his Chevy Corvette.

(Alfred would probably start to get worried, seeing as Bruce always tries to return to the mansion as quickly as possible.)

I don’t think it would surprise anyone to know this man is a heavy stalker. He knows virtually everything about you, from your social security number to how often you brush your teeth. His journal even has a diagram of every freckle and blemish he knows about on your body, just in case he needs to identify your remains some day (he has a very grim outlook on the fate of everyone who enters his life). I’d like to imagine him having a separate journal for you, just to keep tabs on how you’re doing.

Hidden cameras around your house are a must. With his nightly obligations as The Batman, he unfortunately can’t stop by your window to make sure you’re safe as often as he’d want to, so he finds himself remotely checking in on you more than being there in person. If it makes you feel any better, he has the same exact set-up in Alfred’s room. It just makes him feel more at ease to have quick visual access to two of the most important people to him in his life.

Naturally, in order to install these cameras, he’d have to break into your house when you’re not there. This would turn into something he does on the regular, possibly even while you sleep. I at first felt like he may take a few keepsakes from your house as he does this, but I think it’s more likely he’d leave things behind for you instead. Maybe a generous amount of cash, new appliances to replace broken ones, refills of food you were running low on… who knew that The Batman was like the tooth fairy?

God, I have so many ideas, but a lot of them actually focus on Alfred. Bruce is the type to kidnap his new “friend” very early on, driving by his fear and anxiety of something happening to you. He’d obviously see nothing wrong with this; I mean, the guy stalks you and breaks into your hours, why the hell would this be out of the question? So, that got me thinking… how would Alfred react to this?

I wish I had a clear answer… but, again, I have so many ideas, and it’s hard to put fully flesh them out in a clear and concise way. But I’ll try to give you the bare bones, and possibly clarify should there be a follow-up ask.

Idea 1.) Bruce actually tells Alfred he kidnapped you. Well, maybe he’d say something more on the lines of, “I had to save them, I had no other choice,” but Alfred’s a smart man who easily reads between the lines. Hell, maybe Alfred’s had his suspicions for the longest time, walking in on Bruce watching your security feed or discovering his separate journal about you, but the butler tried to rationalize this, as he didn’t want to believe his young master was up to… whatever this weird shit was.

(I can actually see him confronting Bruce about his behaviors a couple of times, and even considering bringing this up to a professional, but that’s beside the point.)

Anyways, back to Bruce holding your unconscious form in his arms. He’d ask Alfred if a room could be prepared for you, his tone eerily casual considering the situation, and the poor butler has to put on his best calm act and convince Bruce to take you back home. While I don’t see him getting through to Bruce, there’s a small chance that he does, and you wake up in your own bed the next morning blissfully ignorant to your own almost-successful kidnapping (all thanks to the butler).

(Now I’m thinking about Bruce holding you up to Alfred like, “can we keep them??” And Alfred has to be like, “no, Master Bruce. Put them back where you got them from.”)

From here on, Alfred decides to try and herd Bruce’s strange obsession with you on his own, too scared to get professional help involved. There’s no way in hell he’s getting his young master taken away from him; not after he vowed to keep him safe to the late Thomas and Martha Wayne. And besides, Alfred did manage to convince Bruce to take you home in the end, so surely that means there’s still hope, right? He hasn’t failed his responsibility just yet…

Of course, as I said before, I don’t see Alfred getting through to Bruce in the end. It’s hard to say what Alfred would even do at this point. Maybe he threatens to call the authorities, which would hurt Bruce enough to feel the need to run away. This would start a huge manhunt for “the runaway billionaire” who “snapped under all the stress” (Alfred made sure to neglect telling police about him also being a kidnapper, instead framing it as though Bruce was going through some sort of mental breakdown).

Don’t even get me started on how confusing this would be for you, LMAO. Imagine going to sleep one night, only to wake up in some sort of abandoned apartment complex with Bruce Wayne of all people. That sounds like a fun story to write, not gonna lie.

Idea 2.) Bruce doesn’t say anything to Alfred and instead keeps you in one of the spare bedrooms. It doesn’t take long for the butler to stumble upon you, narrowly missing the lamp you swing at him as you make your escape. Since you aren’t familiar with the mansion’s layout, however, you find yourself aimlessly running through the halls, and eventually into the chest of a confused Bruce Wayne, who just came out of the Batcave. As Bruce practically drags you back to your room, he runs into a disheveled Alfred, who obviously wants an explanation.

“This is my friend,” Bruce simply answers, a hint of fondness in his gruff voice. “I had to save them, so I brought them back here.”

Now, as I said previously, Alfred probably has had his suspicions for the longest time. So seeing you trying desperately to weasel out of Bruce’s grip mad him realize what his young master had really done. Like with the first idea, Alfred will try to calmly explain why this was wrong, making eye contact with your pleading gaze. But I think this conversation would go south quicker, since Bruce is much less willing to give you up now that you’re settled in. I can see him starting to tear up cuz yandere Battison is lowkey a manchild, I don’t make the rules, begging Alfred to let you stay.

This is the route where Alfred might feel it’s better to comply, at least temporarily. You’re a live hostage in this situation, and the stress of that is too much to make a definitive decision in the moment… and it doesn’t help that Bruce was starting to get erratic. So, he hesitantly relents, trying to ignore the hurt look in your eyes as you’re dragged back to your room.

Remember, this is only a temporary solution. Alfred could never live with the idea of Bruce doing this, and I can see him continuing to do his very best to convince his young master to let you go. Perhaps he may have to take matters into his own hands, helping you escape behind Bruce’s back…

Idea 3.) I’m keeping this one short and sweet; what if Alfred is just as much as a hostage as you are? Remember that Bruce cares just as much for his butler as he does for you, so it’s highly likely that he never lets Alfred leave the mansion either…

[bocceclub]

“Given the current political environment, the possibility that an event may occur has increased, and our election professionals have responded in kind,” says Tammy Patrick, a former election official in Arizona’s Maricopa County who is now a senior adviser at the nonprofit Bolstering Elections Initiative. “Efforts focusing on the physical security of the voters, election workers, and staff by putting in bulletproof glass, panic buttons, razor wire, and fencing are fairly common, as is the installation of surveillance cameras and systems, cyber protections, and training on de-escalation techniques and response drills.”

Very cool and normal country

[seccamsla]

👁️ Spy Cameras in Los Angeles! 👁️

Stay discreetly informed with our professional spy camera installation services at Digital Surveillance! Perfect for monitoring your home or business without drawing attention.

✨ Why Choose Our Spy Cameras?

Discreet Surveillance: Our compact and unobtrusive spy cameras blend seamlessly into any environment, providing covert monitoring.

High-Definition Quality: Capture clear video footage with our high-quality cameras, ensuring you don’t miss a detail.

Easy Remote Access: View live feeds from your smartphone or tablet, keeping you connected to your property at all times.

Custom Solutions: We tailor installations to meet your specific needs, ensuring effective monitoring where you need it most.

🏠 Whether for home security or business protection, our spy cameras offer a unique solution to keep you informed and secure.

🔥 Limited Time Offer: Get 20% off your spy camera installation in Los Angeles this month!

📞 Ready to enhance your surveillance? Contact us at 310-901-4972 for a free consultation and to schedule your installation today!

Stay one step ahead with our reliable spy camera solutions! 🔍

[rom-e-o]

Not Supposed to Be Here (Ebenezer/Constance)(Modern AU)

Unwanted company follows Constance home one day.

Rated 13+. Triggers for stalking from a third party, light violence w/ mention of blood, and some language. All the romance is just fluff, maybe with some innuendo if you squint.

Also, this takes place in a modern AU universe featuring @quill-pen's Bess (and her own Ebenezer/zar), Addie, and Gal. Cameo time!

Happy reading!

Usually, Constance felt safer upon entering their flat’s guarded lobby.

The gentle chime of the entry bell and lemony smell of freshly sprayed cleaner offered an air of professional hominess. It felt sophisticated, but also slightly cavernous, which usually aided her feelings of safety.

The building was old in design, with darkly lacquered walls and natural stone floors, but the cameras and keypads that dotted the vicinity were the best money could buy. The cost of the units within the building damn near insisted it. As a result, most of the residents did the same.

Literal resident, philanthropist (and casual billionaire) Ebenezer Samuel Scrooge, for example, had spared no expense in making her feel safe once she moved into his upscale London apartment. The man already had an impressive security system installed. A few years ago, he would have said it was to protect the funds, ledgers, and gold he prized. Now, it was to protect the woman with a heart of gold whom he had the honor of marrying in a few months’ time.

While Ebenezer treasured Constance open and ardently, her presence alone wasn’t the only factor that inspired him to pay top dollar for security.

He knew that being at his side put her in the public eye, and considering her ex-husband’s very active restraining order, he had updated the system to the latest model the day she first entered his abode.

Not only was the front door guarded by a doorman and the front desk staffed by two receptionists, but the floor Ebenezer’s flat occupied could only be accessed by a special elevator, which was manned by its own staff member at all hours, except for the occasional break. There was, of course, the fire escape out back, but that area was also guarded with cameras closely.

Yet, even as she made small talk with the attendants and checked their postbox for mail, a sense of uneasiness lingered over her like a storm cloud.

She felt unusually restless; like eyes were on her, but not just any set of eyes.

It had been just over a year since she’s felt that familiar sense of dread … the nightmare of his eyes, dark and cold as fog, watching her. Scrutinizing her. Hating her from afar.

A Harrods catalog slipped from her hands and onto the floor.

The rustle caught the attention of a nearby receptionist.

“Something wrong, Ms. DoGoode?” one asked, peering up at her from their post behind a large Mac monitor. They appeared to be checking their emails, the camera feed resigned to a smaller window in the lower corner.

Constance turned and looked behind her, her gaze moving through the lobby and out into the busy London streets. The frost-covered glass hid the details of the sidewalk and traffic outside from her view, but nothing immediately caught her attention.

Prudence, the large mastiff that loyally followed her lead even without a leash, followed her eyes. In response to her owner’s obvious discomfort, her stance immediately became more protective at the first showing of fear. She glanced around, growling in an attempt to stave off whatever was causing her new mama to tremble.

Yet, even as they both ladies stared out the front door, they saw … nothing.

Perhaps she was imagining things. Or, imagining people.

Trying to save face, Constance chuckled and tucked her mail away in her evergreen Telfar shopping bag, a recent acquisition from New York that her mother had sent.

“I’m fine,” she said, making sure to flash the receptionist a grin. “Clumsy as always, haha! Thank you for worrying.”

As if sensing her discomfort, Prudence whimpered and pawed at her lower legs. She bent and scooped up the mailer, then rubbed her large, meatball-shaped noggin. “Sorry, girl. I guess I’m just imagining things.”

Something must have triggered the feeling, she thought. Maybe another man in the lobby was wearing the same cologne as him, and she’d picked up on it subconsciously. Maybe she hadn’t seen someone coming in behind her at the entrance, and she’d let a door fall shut on someone. Yet, if that was the case, they apparently hadn’t stuck around to chastise her.

With kind words of parting, Constance made her way to the gilded elevator tucked in the back of the lobby. Prudence stayed behind just a moment longer, cocking her face at something beyond the glass.

Constance whistled as she held the door. “Come, Prudence.”

With a huff, the pup gave up her pursuit and trotted into the elevator.

“Good girl,” she praised. With those words, the elevator doors fell shut.

Moments later, the front door opened softly, and a man stepped in.

“Excuse me,” he asked as he approached the desk. We wore a dark trench with camel-colored gloves tucked into his pockets. His American accent was distinct, with a slight Dutch twang. “I looking for someone, and I think I just saw her go up.”

“Let’s see…oh, Harrods opened their Christmas department,” Constance exclaimed as she read the mailer on the ride up. “Oh, they already have their teddy bear display up this year! The Cratchit children would adore that. We should all go on an evening after work!”

While Constance attempted to distract herself by reading the seasonal ads, Prudence kept glancing around, as if even the tiniest shadow in the elevator could pose a threat.

“I wonder…has Bess ever been before?” Constance pondered aloud. “I’ll have to text Wolf and see. What a fun surprise that would be!”

Lacquered maroon nails tapped the glossy paper impatient. She glanced around the small space and heaved a sigh. “The, um, attendant must be on break.”

The mastiff definitely wasn’t listening. Her expressive eyes furrowed at every sound, and when the doors opened on the private floor, she even let out a bark.

Smiling softly, Constance gave Prudence a reassuring pat on the back as they exited. “You’re so brave, protecting me. Thank you, sweetheart.”

The praise temporarily distracted Prudence from her apprehension, her tongue lolling from her gummy jaw. Her tail swayed like a ship’s mast during a sea storm.

“Now, keys, keys…” Constance said, reaching her entire arm into the large bag to fish out the front door key to the apartment.

When her fingers brushed the distinct, heart-shaped keyring, a grin bloomed on her face. “There you are! Sneaky.”

Constance unlocked the front door, making sure to wipe her heels on the welcome mat before crossing the threshold.

“Ebenezer?” she called into the space, only to be greeted with silence. She heard no voices, or even music, from within. It seemed he was still out on business. He’d been called to a private meeting at a client’s estate. As the meeting was outside of their usual office location, there had been no reason for Constance to accompany him. Instead, he recommended she take the day off.

She smiled at the memory, especially how he had promised her he’d be back by dinner, then kissed her lovingly on her lips to seal the promise.

In fact, he kissed her each and every time they parted, no exceptions.

She kicked off her heels quickly, then reached up to a keypad located right next to their coatrack.

In addition to a front door key, the apartment had a security system that triggered every time the door was unlocked from the outside. Upon each entry, a special code had to be keyed in to disarm the system until the next time someone entered the space.

Some called the measure tiring or even nerve-inducing. She understood those sentiments, but to her, it was nothing but reassuring. It was a small price to pay for safety, in her mind. More than anything, she was grateful that Ebenezer took her safety so seriously.

She reached up and keyed in the code, her manicured nails tapping polished nickel buttons quickly. By now, she knew the code so well that she could enter it without even looking at the numbers.

A gentle beep sounded from the device, and Constance grinned in satisfaction. “There we go! Now then, miss ma’am Prudie, let’s—”

Without warning, the mastiff began to howl and bark. The volume of her bellows was so loud that the windows seemingly rattled in place.

His cheap cologne gave him away to Prudence before Connie had realized.

Just as the door was about the latch, a gloved hand shot through and stopped it from falling shut. The hand was large and masculine, adorned in a nondescript leather glove that would have been commonplace for anyone in London to wear, especially during the ideas of winter.

However, Constance recognized the glove instantly. She only knew one man who wore camel-colored leather gloves, complete with gold buttons at the wrists.

“Well, well,” Orin Spiegler grumbled, throwing the door open hard enough that the knob punched the drywall and left a hole. “The Sun was right.”

“Orin.” The sound came out as a choked gasp rather than a question.

“Normally I don’t read the tabloids, but when I saw that you hadn’t sent me a wedding invitation, I thought I’d check in with you personally.”

On stockinged feet, Constance stepped back from the front door. Shock stole her voice and ability to move, causing her to creep away with the speed of maple syrup through a frozen tap.

After a terrifying beat of silence, the man raised his arms like a preacher in a sermon and let out a loud laugh. “Well, don’t just stand there! Why don’t you give your ex-husband a hello, at least? After all, I flew all the way here. Don’t I at least get a kiss?”

She felt physically sick, as if she could vomit right there on the spot. “You’re not supposed to be here.”

“I’m banned from London? I’m here on business, Connie. Something our little … separation almost ruined for me. Don’t worry, I have no hard feelings about it, so don’t worry yourself into an episode over it.”

“I have a restraining order,” she said, her voice steady but far from confident. The acid behind his stare made it hard for her to control the tremble in her voice.  “Y-You know that. You can be in London, of course, but…”

“I know you do, my little pumpkin-haired princess,” he said, his tone as condescending as his verbiage, “But, I was in the neighborhood. You know, the financial district, and saw you walking that fabulous little pup of yours.”

Her eyes flitted to the keypad, the red ‘Alarm’ button in the corner practically screaming to be pressed. She wanted to lunge to it, but her ex-husband’s broad-shouldered frame blocked it readily. Perhaps she could shove him, she thought, though her gut knew that she could move him even if she tried her hardest.

She’d never been able to shove him away before, after all.

Prudence continued to growl at the strange man, her canines flashing, and her impressive berth only accentuated by her splayed pose. Lowering herself close to the floor, she looked ready to spring up and attack, like an overwound toy or Jack-in-the-box.

“Easy there, princess. I’m not going to—”

When she snapped at his leg, his brow lifted in surprise.

“Temperamental, are we?” Orin sneered, “I never did like dogs. Too needy.”

His words sounded assured, but Constance couldn’t help but observe that the man had shrank away from her the tiniest bit.

He was scared of Prudence, she realized. Good. This was very good!

“She’s weary of strangers,” she offered, tilting her head down slightly.

“Didn’t seem weary when you were in the lobby.”

Her stomach congealed. So, he hadn’t imagined the feeling after all. “T-Then you must have also seen that I was talking with building security.”

“Who are just SO great at their jobs!” Orin mockingly posed, index finger bouncing in the air as if to tap an invisible period on the end of his statement. “Truly, bravo! I mean, all I had to do was walk in and speak to that lovely receptionist. She heard my accent, and I said I was a friend of yours. I told her I’d seen you while walking by and had just missed you in the lobby. Not a lie, after all. Then it was just a matter of choosing the right floor.”

“The right floor?”

“Everyone knows where your decrepit fiancé lives,” he said. “Exterior shots are all over the gossip rags. You should read them, actually! They say some things about you. Mostly about your breasts and age. I can’t believe they think you’re a 32DD. We all know you’re a—”

“Please stop,” she pleaded, holding a hand up, “I don’t care. I really don’t.”

“You should. They’re short-changing you, babe.”

“Don’t call me that. Also, don’t insult Ebenezer.”

“Well, anyway, images of you at your last dress-fitting kept me and all the other guys very entertained in the airport,” he said with a smile. “You ladies all looked so cuuuute! I’m glad you had some friends for this fitting. It must have been so lonely last time, with just you and your parents.”

“I-I…”

“I recognized Bess – fucking gorgeous lady, tell her I said that—”

“I won’t.”

“—and the other two … Addie and Gal, yes?”

“I’m not telling you.”

“So, I’m right. Fah-bulous. Are they taken?”

“In every way, shape and form,” she said flatly. “Are you satisfied?”

Orin chuckled a little too hard, until the sound petered out into a garish gasp. Then, his eyes drifted out the nearby apartment window, as if he was lost in thought. She almost thought she could sneak past him, until his eyes flashed back to her at the speed of an owl’s.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Connie?” he asked. “You. Here. With him.”

Constance furrowed her brow. “I don’t understand the question.”

“You’re not going to fall for the same song and dance again, are you?” he asked. “Doesn’t this feel familiar to you? The courting? The sweet nothings? You, sitting alone in an apartment, biding your time until he grows bored with you?”

It was Constance’s turn to laugh, but this time, in disbelief. “You and Ebenezer are nothing alike. Not in any way.”

“Now, that can’t be true,” he objected. “After all, you love him … and you loved me. Once upon a time, maybe, but you did. We must have a few similarities.”

“I loved the man I thought you were.”

“Perhaps we have acting in common.”

“No.”

“You think this one will last?” he asked. “That a man with his wealth and status will be satisfied with just you?”

“You have no right to—”

"Want a little insider tip?” Orin asked with a smirk. “Think of men like cabs, babe. When they're available, their light goes on. Ping! They wake up one day and decide they're ready to settle down, have a couple brats, they’re like a driver on-duty. The light goes on, and then, it’s a race against all the other cabs to get their next passenger. The next woman they pick-up? BOOM! That's the one. Marriage, kids, life-rending depression.”

Constance shook her head. “You might be like that—”

“—All men are like that—”

“—But Ebenezer isn’t.”

The guffaw that left Orin’s lips was as strident as cannon fire. “You think you're living a sweet little love story? You got lucky. You were just a pretty, desperate redhead on the curb. He pulled up, and you couldn't wait to hop in, couldn't you?"

Constance couldn’t look Orin in the eyes. “I-I…accepted Ebenezer’s kindness, yes. But I assure you, he was kind to me out of the goodness of his heart. He never expected anything in return because he’s a good man. A generous man!”

“Right,” Orin said. “And yet…here you two are. Living together. Engaged.”

“Stop.”

“A therapist would call this a troubling pattern, Con. You’re the common denominator here.”

“You were the one who asked me to marry you!” she asserted, her voice starting to hike in volume.

Then, to her horror, a grin split his face. “Oh … that’s right. I asked you. I flicked my little light on when I chatted you up, bought you a few vodka sodas on starry rooftops, compared you to a Botticelli angel, held your hand when we ice-skated in Rockefeller Center …I pulled my car up to your curb. And what did you do?”

He stepped forward again, which sent Prudence into a frenzy of howling and barking. Given the volume of her bellowing voice, it wouldn’t be long before neighbors (or security) investigated the noise.

This time, however, he didn’t shrink away. Instead, he reared his foot back and landed a solid kick right in her gut. The force sent Prudence staggering back enough for her to lose her footing.

Constance blanched at the sight. “Prudence!”

“You, a beautiful but dense girl from Manhattan,­ saw my light was on … and jumped right in.”  

She flew to her knees and went to check on Prudence’s condition. Thankfully, it wasn’t a second of checking later that the mastiff was back to her senses. It appeared his blow had merely stunned her temporarily. With one shake of the head, she was right on her feet again.

Prudence weighed more than Orin by about twenty pounds, and while she had been holding back before, his attack only shattered her self-restraint. She lunged forward, jaws snapping and gullet foaming with rage. The force of her attack sent him to his elbows with a bone-rattling thump. Prudence didn’t cite or claw at him, but she did make a lot of noise while pinning is chest.

As predicted, the commotion caused doors to open in the hall, and Constance heard the concerned questions of neighbors.

While Orin was distracted, Constance bolted up and slammed the ‘Alarm’ button on the system. Along with the loud, reverberating barks from Prudence, the rhythmic blaring of the alarm created further commotion.

Pressing the button also automatically pinged authorities of an emergency.

It would also notify Ebenezer via cell message – a notification she knew he never silenced.

She wasn’t answering.

Ebenezer had no doubt he’d find at least twenty traffic tickets in his mailbox in the coming weeks, but the alarm had been activated at his flat and Constance wasn’t answering her phone.

If only he’d been at his usual office; he could have sprinted home, but no. Today of all days, he had been in a meeting outside of London, and had had to drive 15 minutes out to meet a particularly uppity client at their private estate.

Ebenezer had a feeling that the man would become an ex-client after how he’d dashed out after barely a word to Bob and his twin brother Ebenezar, but he couldn’t even care.

“Dammit, MOVE!” he swore, avoiding a flock of cyclists as he sped down A2198.

Once again, his call went to voicemail, and he immediately dialed again. All he could focus on was driving (AKA not crashing the car) and calling Constance’s phone over and over.

He left one pleading voicemail after another, begging her to call him back and also letting her know that he would be there soon.

When he finally had a visual of his building, he saw police parked out front, but their lights were off. Most importantly, there were no ambulances or other emergency vehicles. This slightly ebbed his panic, but not enough for him to coast into the building’s private garage and find a spot. Instead, he pulled up and parked in the street with alignment that could generously be described as cattywampus.  

Again, he couldn’t care. Let them blast his windshield with parking tickets

Pushing the doors open and sprinting into the lobby, two of the guards immediately went to his side. Their goal had likely been to inform him of the situation, but their insistence upon pleasantries was too much chatter for him to handle.

“Sir, we’re glad you’re here!” one said, a light sheen of perspiration already coating their face. “Thank goodness, we were just going to—”

“Talk while you walk with me,” Ebenezer ordered, his voice practically bladed with tension. “Now.”

Instead of taking the elevator, he keyed into a private side staircase and took the steps up two at a time. Even professional firefighters would have had a hard time keeping up with the man.

Ten floors passed in the blink of an eye. Upon arriving at his flat’s level, he threw the door open to his floor to see a gaggle of officers crowded around his open doorway at the end of the hall. For a moment, his heart stopped at the sight before him.

Then, amidst a sea of curious onlookers and uniformed constables, he saw a flash of red hair. He would have recognized that hue anywhere.

“Constance!” he yelled, running down the hall at the sight of her.

Upon hearing her name, she turned to face him, her face puffy and her eyes blazing from worry. She was sitting on the floor in the doorway of their flat, Prudence seated at her side and nuzzling her face. They were okay, he thought, barely resisting tears.

She didn’t have time to speak before Ebenezer had shoved his way through the crowd and enveloped her in his embrace. They crashed together like comets compelled together by gravity.

Once in his arms, he felt her sink into him desperately, as if she was a small animal seeking solace from a hunter. “E-Ebenezer …I’m so sorry.”

He shushed her kindly but immediately, his wide palm falling protectively across her back.  He urged her closer, and she obliged with a thankful sob, her shoulders shaking as she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in the crook of his neck.

“It’s okay, Sunshine,” he whispered, turning slightly to place a kiss upon her damp cheek. “Gods, I’m so relieved to see you. I-I…can’t even tell you what I was thinking on the drive … ”

As they embraced, Scrooge heard nearby officers chatter about what had just transpired.

“The bloke said he was here on business, but his name isn’t pulling up any employers here or Stateside.”

Business? Stateside?

With Constance still folded tightly in his arms, he looked over to see a smaller group of officers that had gathered around … someone. He squinted his eyes, as if trying to peer through the physical entities that blocked his view.

“Is he going to need a transport for any injuries?” a voice radioed in. “The dog jumped him, but all injuries look superficial.”

Dog? Were they talking about Prudence? He looked over to see that Prudence was staying close to Connie, hugging her flank closely while laying his head upon one of his bent thighs.

“Hey there, girl,” he whispered, his hand giving the base of her skull a scritch. “Are you okay?”

Prudence whispered, and Scrooge’s confusion deepened.

“No, we checked him out and he’s going straight to holding,” the officer replied, his tone clipped. “He’s breached a restraining order.”

“Acting in contempt of court, huh?” another repeated, followed by a huff of amusement. “Stupid bastard.”

Ebenezer’s blood ran cold. The realization of what had transpired hit him like a ton of bricks.

All other senses; his sight, his hearing, his sense of touch; faded away, and all he became conscious of was a building fury that threatened to turn his vision red. There, through the narrowest gap of legs, he saw the distinct pale skin and dark-hair of the man that had tormented his fiancée for decades.

“You.” Ebenezer stormed to his feet and crossed the hallway in two steps. He was driven by blinding anger, which caused his heart to buzz like a saw. With the posture of a lion spotting wounded prey, he surged forward and grabbed the front of Orin’s coat. The over-starched lapels crunched under the older man’s fingers from the strength of his grip.

At this lunge, panic ensued.

“Mr. Scrooge, sir—!”

“W-wait! Ebenezer!”

Ebenezer paid the others no mind as he hauled Orin close to his face, their brows nearly touching as he eyed the man like a Minotaur out for blood.

Orin wheezed out a laugh. Only then did he notice the light bruising and raised marks on the man’s neck, each swatch standing out brightly against his sickly skin.

Oh, he would absolutely reward Prudence for her hard work.

“I should put your hard head through this bloody wall, Spiegler.”

“Then we’d both be off the jail, wouldn’t we?” Orin taunted. When he grinned, he saw his teeth outlined in red. “See, I tried to tell Sunshine that you and I were more alike than different.”

"Did you?" he asked, practically snorting in amusement.

"Yes, but I see that time in sleepy little London has made her more of an airheaded bimbo than she already was. She just couldn't seem to grasp the concept."

He raised his other arm in preparation to dislocate Orin’s jaw first-hand, but paused just short of contact. Unfortunately, the goblin of a man had a point, and he was in no mood to be forced away from his wife. Or go to prison.

With a furious sneer, Ebenezer threw the man against the wall in release. The officers fumbled to catch him, but understandably, made no effort to chastise the philanthropist for his reaction.

“Get him out,” Ebenezer whispered, his shoulders hiked up to his ears, and his voice oozed with venom.

“W-Would you like us to—”

“I want everyone who isn’t a resident on this floor off of it,” he seethed, his tone oozing with disappointment. “Any officers that need to question us can come inside.”

When his gaze fell on Constance, still huddled next to Prudence on the ground, his icy gaze melted into something more careful and tepid. Slowly, he sank back onto his knees and pulled her into another hug.

“Come one,” he urged, his voice soft and so, so tender. “Let’s go inside. I’m with you.”

The entire questioning process was as cut-and-dry as it could have been, considering the circumstances. With the assistance of Orin’s digital footprint in addition to the less than glowing testimonies Constance and Ebenezer offered, the authorities were able to piece together a likely series of events. It seemed Orin had lied about his employment status. He was a self-employed crypto investor after having a falling out with his New York office and had no reason to be in London for any professional reason.

“There is … much for us to look into,” a constable said as they jotted notes in a small flipbook. “Ms. DoGoode, you said he made a comment about watching you enter the lobby. Yet, you say you didn’t see him?”

“N-No,” she answered, her voice sanded with exhaustion from the day’s events. “I felt like someone was watching me, and Prudence was looking out the front window too. I … thought maybe I was imagining things? I never actually saw him, though. Not until I keyed in and he grabbed the door.”

“Ah.” The officer scrawled another note.

“H-How did he get up onto the floor?” Constance asked. Prudence sat to her right, head in her lap, and Ebenezer sat to her left. One of his hands cupped her knee, his thumb moving in gentle rotations in one of the indents there. It was a soothing reminder of his presence that she was beyond grateful for.

“We’ve already interrogated the main office and are currently looking into where the oversight occurred.”

“That should be no issue, as there are cameras all over the building,” Scrooge chimed in, peering at the officers with impatience. “That should alleviate much confusion.”

“Yes, it should sir,” one replied. “We’re working to secure that footage properly.”

“Good.”

Constance watched her fiancé in intrigue. In all the time they’d known each other and dated, she had never seen him stare anyone down before, and she had to confess … it was quite unnerving. Regardless of how he addressed the officers, his hand remained tender when touching her.

Meanwhile, while the couple chatted with authorities, other members of the growing Scrooge family pack (comprised of the many friends, associates, and relatives that the twins had connected with) texted in. His twin brother, Ebenezar, had known something was amiss. He’s watched him sprint from the meeting after all.

Upon receiving a brief overview of what happened, as well as a request to inform the others, the messages trickled in steadily:

>>Ebenezar: I knew something was wrong when you left … but I had no idea that it was that bad, Sammy.

>>Bess: I will KILL that man, I swear.

>>Ebenezar: If the authorities half-ass detaining him, they’re not going to like the next letter from our firm that crosses their desk.

...

>>Addie: Don’t worry about any errands! Tom and I can bring things your way!

>>Tom: You bet we can. Are you both set for dinner tonight? I can run something over.

...

>>Harry: I’m so sorry, Uncle. Can Hela and I do anything? Just say the word.

...

>>Bob: I just called Mr. Ebenezar as well, and we’re going to divide and conquer at work. Consider it all done.

>>Ethel: What cell is he in? I’ve been taking axe-throwing lessons, and my aim is damn good.

...

>>Gal: If you guys need some door security that’s worth a damn, Jake and I are free tonight.

...

After one last swipe of their men, the interviewer cleared their throat, the loudness of it conveying a sense of finality.

“We’ll keep you both apprised of any updates,” the officer said as they pushed themselves up from the sofa. With a nod to their partner, they reached across the table to shake Scrooge’s hand. An odd gesture, all things considered, but he did reciprocate, though his eyes remained as sharp as a steel edge.

“I certainly hope those updates include information on whether Mr. Spiegler’s detainment details change,” he said. “Clearly an order from the court is not enough to stop him.”

“Absolutely, sir. We’ll keep you both posted.”

Constance was relieved the questioning was over, and allowed her fiancé to take the reins at leading the officers out the door. After a few more pleasantries, she heard the reverberating sound of the door latch and the telltale beeping of the security system turning on for the night.

When she looked up, she saw Ebenezer tentatively approaching her. His footfalls were soft, as if he was walking on snow. His touch was even softer as he reached down to push a few strands of auburn hair back from her face.

“I’m so, so sorry,” she started. Her tone was borderline formal in manner and delivery, as if she was speaking to an associate rather than the man she wanted to marry.

Ebenezer’s gentleness turned to confusion swiftly. “Goodness, whatever for?”

She paused to blink back tears before answering. Another apology left her.

“I’m sorry for how … for how I seem to always make your life more difficult,” Constance said slowly. She directed her gaze at a notch in the hardwood flooring, unable to look her fiancé in the eyes. She knew in that moment that, if she glimpsed his face, she knew she would cry again. “I-I should have noticed him sooner. I should have trusted my gut better.”

“No, sweetheart—”

“I should have trusted Prudence,” she said, looking down at said pup, whose head still rested in Constance’s lap. Upon seeing her sweet, droopy eyes peer up at her, Constance caved as a sob rattled her body. “H-He kicked Prudence, Ebenezer! She was so brave, protecting me, a-and I let her get hurt!”

For a moment, Ebenezer couldn’t find the words to speak. Did she … really care more about Prudence than her own safety?

Seeing Constance cry spurred London's finest lady (and treat aficionado) to lift her head and lick the woman’s face, lapping away her tears. She was also incredibly ticklish there, and Prudence’s kisses dissolved her tears instantly. With peals of laughter leaving her, Ebenezer leaned in and gave Prudence an affectionate kiss on the forehead.

“She’s a strong girl,” he assured, grinning broadly. “Aren’t you, Prudence?”

She barked in agreement, her warm and deep ‘ruff’ filling the space.

Constance huffed out another laugh, always amazed at how the pup seemed to understand conversations better than some humans. Although Prudence had done a sterling job at ridding Constance’s face of her tears, Ebenezer still fished a clean handkerchief from his trouser pocket. He dabbed her face gently, careful not to pull or tug her skin.

“Tomorrow, just to be safe, we’ll take her to the vet,” he promised. “We’ll get her looked over and make sure she’s in tip-top shape. Trust me, Prudence has had many children accidentally tumble over her before. She helps the Cratchit children decorate at Christmas, after all!”

Constance giggled again, covering her mouth sheepishly as she did so.

Just the sight of her smile was enough to lift a huge weight from his shoulders. While the entire afternoon had been an exercise in panic, all that mattered to him was that she was safe.

“Now,” he said, placing the handkerchief in her hand, then caging her smaller hands in his, “What we’re also going to do is take a holiday. We’re going to spend some time away from the flat and let things calm down.”

The suggestion brightened Constance’s eyes, but that excitement was almost immediately tempered. “What about work?”

“I’ll call in some favors. My brother is a damn fine businessman – definitely better at handling clients than I am. Don't tell him I said so, though. Bob will handle the books. And if all else fails? Well, being a private practice has many benefits.” He then paused to rub his chin in thought. “Actually, it might be good to close our doors for a few weeks to give everyone a break.”

“Y-You think?” she asked. “Wait, but what about…?”

“Profits?” he asked, unable to hold back a smirk. “You’ve seen our accounts. We could shut down for the next thousand years and be right as rain. And that’s a moderate estimate.”

Again, that beautiful smile came back. Mere hours before he’s suddenly been faced with the possibility of never seeing that smile again, and the thought of that physically sickened him.

“Sunshine, what you said earlier…” he said, his voice dropping to a whisper, “I…never want you to think that I see your ex-husband’s actions as a reflection of you. When you say you don’t want to make life more difficult for me, I realize that I cannot even begin to describe all the ways your have made my life immeasurably better since we first met.

“Since you came into my life, I’ve been changed in ways that, frankly, I thought I were beyond me. I thought I was too old to experience many of these lovely, sentimental emotions that poets love to wax on about.” He laughed, tossing his head back and staring at the ceiling. “Gods, I’ve never met someone who makes me feel so excited every time I’m proven wrong. It’s a feeling I’d wish every human could feel.”

Transfixed, she could only watch as he slowly turned to face her again. “You have made me excited to face each day. You’ve inspired me to notice small things – before meeting you, I don’t think I ever paid attention to those fuzzy caterpillars that come onto the sidewalks after it rains, or the way Prudence’s nose always wiggles slightly when she’s about to sneeze.”

“Really?” she asked. Her tone sounded so hopeful that it practically broke his heart.

“Yes!” he confessed. The answer couldn’t rush from his lips fast enough. “When I was calling your phone earlier, I…started thinking the worst. I suddenly couldn’t bear the idea of walking into that flat again if you weren’t there, or going back to work and seeing your desk empty. Seeing your coats line dup so neatly in our hall closet. Seeing your make-up on our bathroom sink. Not smelling your perfume on the pillow beside mine. Not hearing you have a sneeze attack every time you smell pepper, or not being able to race you down to the front lobby when we order take-away.”

Constance’s breath caught in her throat as she noticed tears prickling the corner’s of her love’s steely eyes as he rambled.

“When I tell you that there is no possible way you could make my life worse by being a part of it, I’m deathly serious,” he confessed. A tear darted down his cheek, and as he attempted to stifle a sob of his own, she dabbed it away with the handkerchief.

As if this gesture proved his point, a puff of laughter escaped him.

“The only possible way you could make my life harder or worse … is if you were no longer in it.”

It was his turn to cry as the tension of the day caught up to him, and he felt the floodgates break. Blast, he hated how easily he could be brought to tears sometimes.

What made it easier, however, was feeling Constance’s embrace circle him. Her hands latched at the base of his neck as she leaned in and covered his broader body with hers. His arms circled her waist, securing her in place, keeping her safe and present with him.

For many hours, they stayed like that, silently sobbing and embracing each other as the anxiety of the day left their bodies in literal waves. By the time they’d both exhausted their eyes to achy redness, sleep lingered over them with overwhelming insistence.

With mutual understanding, both parted ways to make some small changes before laying down. Ebenezer loosened his tie and Constance removed her constricting pantyhose, leaving her only in her blouse and pencil skirt. He gave her an impish whistle, and she threw that garment at him playfully.

Using her fiancé’s head as a pillow, she curled up atop his body and nuzzled her face against his shirt. Her ear laid squarely over his heart, where she could hear its steady and strong beat just inches away. Ebenezer moved a hand to the small of her back to not only make sure she stayed in place atop him and didn’t roll off, but to remind her of his presence.

“I’ll watch the door,” he promised, kissing the top of her head. “You sleep. I insist.”

His broad hand gave her waist a reassuring squeeze, hugging her close.

“And I’ll be right here when you wake up.”

>>Hello! You’re reached the voicemail for Constance DoGoode. I’m away from the phone right now, but leave your name and number, and I will return your call as soon as possible. Thank you!

… <BEEP>

<<Sunshine, it’s me. Please, please tell me you’re okay. I need to know you’re safe. I-I’m sorry for calling you over and over, and … fuck, I promise I’ll be there soon, angel. I promise. I love you, okay. I love you so much. I-I’m going to call again. Okay, love you. Please call me.”

[techere56]

12 Piece Wireless Home Security System w/HD Camera

BUY NOW

About this item

Simple to set up. Seriously secure. Get ready to protect right out of the box. Just plug in the Base Station and camera, place your sensors, and start protecting your home. No wiring or drilling required. The SimpliSafe App will walk you through the details, or contact SimpliSafe directly for professional installation.

1 FREE Month of 24/7 professional monitoring with Fast Protect Technology for fast police response - With optional monitoring services, our agents keep watch even when you can't, ready to instantly alert emergency responders. Starting at 66c/day with no long-term contracts or hidden fees. (SimpliSafe products and professional monitoring services are only offered for sale and supported in the US)

Complete control of your system with the SimpliSafe App - Arm, disarm and protect anytime, anywhere.