Date: Fri, 14 May 2021 20:33:34 -0400 From: Justin Forfun Subject: New Reality 26 This story started out of boredom, and has now taken on a life of its own. I've gotten a lot of positive feedback, and some negative. I'm open to suggestions and feedback, but it is what it is. You can comment as you like at Jst4fun2nyt@gmail.com. The sex in it isn't going to be a major part of it, nor is it going to be graphic. If you're looking for masturbation fodder, look elsewhere. There will be slow times in this story, just like there are in life. Other times, things will fly at you too fast. There will be boring days, and exciting days. It's just how it's flowing. I was going to try to keep writing, and post chapters slower so I could keep up. Work and real life have me distracted, so I'm going to put everything I have so far on Nifty, as fast as they'll post it. After that, chapters will come as I can get them written. No promises on how fast that will be, as my busy time at work is coming, and the next 6-8 months, I'll be working 15 hour days. Here is the house plan I used for inspiration for their new lake house. I've modified it to fit my dream, but this is what gave me the idea of the general layout. https://archivaldesigns.com/collections/castle-house-plans/products/balmoral-castle-house-plan DONATE to Nifty so you can continue to enjoy my story, and the thousands of others!!!! https://donate.nifty.org/ ************************************************************************* Scott, Billy, and I were in the GLS with Lucas and LeAnn in the `way back' seat on our way home. I had asked Alejo to stay at the school until the pups were done their day. We were passing one of our Chevrolet dealerships and another of my wild ideas hit me. "Pull into that Burger King, Tommy, and wait for me. I'm going for a walk, you all have lunch, I'll be back within the hour." Tommy was concerned for my safety but with my mental connection with Scott and Billy, they convinced him I would be safe. He was still hesitant until I reminded him I had started carrying my pistol this morning, and if a real crisis came up, I was still a 10 foot tall beast. He rolled his eyes at that last part, as he knew I'd never shift in public unless my mates or pups were in danger, but he did as I asked. I walked the quarter mile to the dealership and wandered the lot for about 5 minutes. A boy about my age came out and walked up to me smiling. "Hi, I'm Joshua. What can I help you with today?" "I'm wanting to surprise my mom with a birthday present and she's driving an old piece of junk. I'd like her in something newer and safe." "Well, that narrows it down to about everything you see. Anything specific you need it for? Are you looking for space or economy?" "I was thinking a midsize crossover. Equinox or Mazda CX5?" "Well, we only have the Chevrolet products, but I'll be happy to show you an Equinox. Do you have a budget in mind?" "I've done the math, and I was thinking around $45k?" "You can really do nice for your mom in that range. I have one inside that we can look at out of the heat, then we can take a drive if you like?" I followed him inside and he showed me the vehicle. He had me sit in the driver's seat, and sat beside me to show where all the controls were and talked about the options that weren't on this one. Of course, being on the showroom floor, it had most of the options, but he made a point to mention other choices I had. When this was done, we went outside and took a short drive in a similar one that didn't have the sunroof, but had the same engine. He said that mattered when testing, so if I went somewhere else, be sure to check that I'm driving the drivetrain I'm considering. When we got back, he took me to the service department and told me about their loaner car program. Then, he asked if I was ready to decide or did I want to go look at the Mazda first. "What? Dude, you've done all the work and you're asking if I want to go somewhere else first?" "Well yeah. I'm sorry Greg, but we're not here to push you into a car you don't like. If I push you into this and later you ride in a Mazda and wish you'd bought one, you'll never come back to me. If I treat you right, I'll get some of your business in the future." I nodded my head in thought "And you don't want to check if I can afford it? Run my credit?" "Nah, either you can or you can't. Same concept though, if you can't right now, when you can, you'll remember me and hopefully you'll come to me. I guess I'm being manipulative by not being manipulative. Or I'm just treating people how I'd want treated, and trusting fate to take care of me in the long run." Right then, his phone rang. He silenced it without looking at it "Anything else I can answer for you? Honestly, if you really want to look and be fair, look at the Honda too. Their CRV is one of the most popular, but personally I like ours or the Mazda." "I'll remember that, thanks. Hey, did I see the restroom back towards service? Do you mind? You can return your call while I'm gone." "Yeah, second door on the right. It's probably my new girlfriend, we've only been dating four months, but it's like we connected on our first date. Soulmates, ya know?" "I know exactly what you mean, my husband and I were married within weeks of first meeting." "Husband? Really? Sorry, it's not that, it's just you look my age." I shrugged my shoulders and showed him my ring as I headed towards the back hall. I kept my eyes on him and when he wasn't looking, I headed for the other hallway and found the GM's office. As I was walking up I heard him on the phone. "I understand Mrs. Johnson, you bring it in here and we'll make it right or we'll replace it. You've been coming here for twenty years and I want you to be happy... I don't care about that, come in and we'll get you in a loaner until we can sort it out. Ok, I'll see you then, goodbye." When I walked to the open door he glanced up and his eyes got huge as he jumped from his chair and waved me in. As I shut the door behind me, he said "Alpha Warnick! I didn't know you were coming, is there anything I can do for you Sir?" "Forgive me, but how do I know you." "You don't Sir, but my son started school today and I was in the crowd at the opening. I'm sorry, I'm Jonathan Wesley, General Manager here. Is there something you needed Sir?" "Well, first stop with the Sir, my name is Greg. We were driving by and I stopped on impulse to just see how things were going. I don't usually sneak around and spy, so forgive me, but the idea literally hit me as we drove by. I came in to see you after spending some time with one of your salesmen and I wanted to talk to you." "I hope he treated you well? Is there a problem I need to address?" "No, actually I came in to tell you how wonderful his service was. I'm curious about one thing though, when we were done, he didn't ask for the sale. In fact, he suggested I look at the other vehicles I mentioned I was comparing. That's not my understanding of how cars are sold, or have I missed something?" "We will certainly change our policies to fit your desires Alpha, er... Greg, but we stopped the high-pressure sales tactics about, oh... 15 years ago or so. I went with feedback I got from our long term customers, and, well, to be honest I got the idea from a movie. Have you seen the old `Miracle on 34th Street'?" "I have, and I think I know what you're saying. `If we don't have it, send them to Gimbles.' Am I correct?" "Exactly! And ya know, it worked. Our returning customer rate increased by 14%, our sales went up an average of 19%, and our customer satisfaction rating doubled." "So this Joshua wasn't being himself, he was using a gimmick?" "Oh no, it's not a gimmick, it's how we do things. I've had salespeople come to work that didn't agree with the concept and they don't last. It just doesn't work if the person doing it is fake. Joshua's a nice boy Sir, but he won't be here long. He's got his master's degree in business. He was honest when he started, that this was just until he could line up work at the managerial level." "What? He can't be more than 20?" "19 Sir. And he's dating one of ours but I don't think he knows it yet. I'd bet you my paycheck you'll be hearing from her asking to allow him to be changed." "Really? I knew I caught a scent on him. Hmm, well now what do you recommend? Should we tell him the truth about who I am? Or am I just another customer that came in and didn't buy?" "Well, at the risk of offending, do you need a vehicle Sir?" he said with a smile. "Do you forget? I have an Equinox in my garage that came from here." "Oh yes, the Pearl White, I'm sorry, I associate the vehicle with Mary. I've known her for decades. Well, if you don't need a vehicle, I'd say we go let the boy know he's passed a test, if you don't mind? Encourage him." I nodded and we walked out to find Joshua smiling and talking to a couple, showing them the same Equinox. I could hear the conversation and he was being as polite and professional with them as he had been with me. I thought I recognized the man's voice but they were facing away, then I scented them. Vampires, my pack, Todd and Lisa Pierce, the couple that adopted Bobby and Teddy. Todd was asking about the safety features and I saw him stop for just a second. He had scented me as well. He didn't react but continued with his questions. I walked up, wanting to see how things would develop. "Sorry to interrupt Joshua, but I know this nice couple. Todd, Lisa, how have you been? I thought you'd be at school." "Oh, hi Greg. No, the pre-K class doesn't start until Monday. We thought we'd replace my little car with something bigger and safer, you know we adopted twins, right?" "I'd heard that, congratulations. Actually I was in here looking at the same vehicles. This one's would stretch your budget a bit wouldn't it?" "Well, yeah. He's just showing us this one, but we'd get one with a lot fewer option. Josh just figured we wanted to stay inside out of the heat. Do you know Joshua? He's dating my sister." Todd said, giving me a knowing look. "Well, that's wonderful, do you think he'll be able to accept that weird family of yours?" I said with a laugh, hoping they would read into it what I needed to hear. "He's accepted us. He's known the twins for a few weeks and just loves them. I think he'll fit right in." I looked from Todd to Lisa with a thousand questions in my eyes. Do I have the right to out this family or do I let them take that risk? Do I risk this boy's life by telling him now, or let those who know him best read the right time to have that discussion? Todd threw me the final piece of my puzzle when he said "Dad was going to have a talk with him last weekend, but something came up. I'm sure Samantha would be happy to have you talk to him a bit." I did some thinking, had a mental conversation with Scott and Billy, and made several decisions. "Lisa, do you like that one? Or a different color?" "Oh I like this color Greg, but we'll have to get one that costs less. Josh said there's one outside that will fit us perfect." I looked at Joshua "Did they mention any other brands or do they love this one?" "I'm sorry Greg, they're your friends, but you'll have to ask them. It's not my place to speak for them." "Right answer Joshua. Ok Lisa, do you want to look at anything else? Or are you sold on the Chevy?" "We were about to have Josh write up the one outside Greg, why?" I turned to Jonathan "Give them this one, at the price of the other. I'll make up the difference so your store isn't out and Joshua gets his full commission. No need for a credit check right now, if they can't get GM's 0% financing I'll carry it personally." Todd and Lisa started to object but I silenced them with a glance. "Would you please deal with the paperwork for us while I have a talk with Joshua, Todd, and Lisa? May I use your office Jonathan?" "Of course Sir. I'll have this ready when they come out." "Thank you, would the three of you follow me please?" Todd and Lisa didn't hesitate, but Joshua was completely lost, looking at me like I was a space alien and looking from his boss to his friends like their bodies had been taken over by my people. I just smiled at him and he finally followed when Jonathan gave him a double handed `shoo' motion. I walked in and sat at Jonathan's desk, pointing at the chair across from it for Joshua to sit. Todd was about to close the door when Scott and Billy walked up. Todd sat beside Lisa on the couch while Billy closed the door and stood beside Scott. "Joshua, I haven't been honest with you. My name is Greg, but my mom doesn't need an Equinox. I stopped in here on impulse to see how my customers are being treated." "Your customers? You're Greg Warnick?" "You know my name? But you photocopied my license, didn't you look at it?" "I guess I didn't put it together. I imagined you being like 60 years old." "Well, you're not in here because I own the place. Well, you are, but that's not what... oh never mind, I'll get to that. You can tell me it's none of my business, but I'm going to ask anyway. How serious are you about Samantha? You said it seemed like you connected right off?" He looked around at Scott and Billy behind him, then to Lisa and finally at Todd "Promise you won't tell her Todd?" and when he got a nod, reached into his pocket and pulled out a small square box "I was going to propose to her tonight at dinner." I smiled and nodded. "Please bear with me Josh... May I call you Josh?" he nodded "Samantha isn't exactly... damnit, Scott? I've never done this, any help? Todd?" They both shook their heads. "Josh, do you believe in aliens?" "What? What the heck does that have to do with... wait, what?" as he again looked around the room "Ok, so I know there's something she's not telling me, and I know Todd knows too. What... Ok, I'll play along, no, I don't believe in aliens. I don't NOT believe either. I haven't seen proof they exist so I can't say either way, happy?" "And if I showed you proof, what would you say?" "I'd say ok, there are aliens. What's that have to do with Sam... wait, Todd? Are you guys aliens?" "Talk to me Joshua. None of the others in this room will speak without my permission, they know better. Back to you, what about witches, werewolves, vampires, loch ness monster, bigfoot... do you feel the same about all of those? Or are some of those so insane they just can't be real?" "Same for all of them. Show me and I'll accept, until then I don't know so I can't say yes or no. What do you mean they won't speak without permission?" "Focus Josh, just you and me for now, ok? If I showed you proof that werewolves are real and told you Samantha is one, would that change how you feel about her?" "They can't be... well, no I guess they could be... but no, it wouldn't change how I feel about her. She can't help something like that. IS she a werewolf? Is that it? Will it change me? Will we have pups?" "Billy?" "100% honest Alpha, I think he's already accepted that he's going to marry a werewolf and raise pups." "Todd?" "He loves my sister Alpha, no doubt. He'd marry her if she was the loch ness monster." "Alpha? What?.. now wait, which is it? Stop playing with me. You guys are serious, this isn't some TV show like Punk'd is it?" "Not a TV show Josh. Look at me, stop and breathe, and tell me from your heart, no matter what Samantha is, do you love her so totally that nothing, absolutely nothing would change that." He settled down and stared into my eyes for a few minutes and I could see him picturing her in his mind, seeing her smile, hearing her laugh, then I saw him smile. "Nothing will change my love for her Greg. Please, tell me what's about to change in my life? I thought you all were just playing, but...I don't know, you're serious. I swear her secret is safe with me. I love her and want spend forever with her." He was looking straight into my eyes, so I let just a little Alpha change them, giving a hint of red. His eyes widened, then relaxed. "You're really werewolves?" The whole room burst into laughter and poor Joshua thought he had bought into the joke and gotten burned until we all calmed down and I told him "No Josh, we're vampires, and so is Samantha. Can you accept that? Do you still want to give her that ring?" He didn't hesitate a second when he replied "Of course I do, she's my soulmate. Do I have to become one too?" "No, you don't have to. You can share your life, and when you die, she can choose to live on, or die also. We're not eternal unless we want to be. That's something you should talk over with her, she'll be here in about 5 seconds." He didn't have time to turn around before she opened the door and looked at him with tears in her eyes. He looked at me, then at her, then turned back to me "I might be making a fool of myself, but if I'm understanding things right. May I Alpha?" I nodded so he turned and dropped to a knee, opening the box and said "Samantha, will you be my wife, and share eternity with me?" Her tears increased as she looked from Joshua to Todd to me, then back to Joshua, nodding her head and reaching to embrace him. He held her for a few minutes and we all needed tissues, then he turned back to me. "Alpha, I don't know anything so please help me. All I know is I want to be with her as long as I can, not just one life but many." "There is so much to learn young padawan." I said, attempting Yoda. Everyone groaned. "I'm sorry Josh, I thought we needed to lighten up just a bit. Look, there really is so much you need to learn. Take the rest of the day off, go sit in a park and talk, go home and cuddle and talk, I don't care what else you do, but talk. Samantha, tell him everything you know." I stopped for a few seconds, seeming to be lost in thought, "On second thought, you can't leave work yet, you still have three things you need to do. First, you need to deliver that Equinox to Todd and Lisa, then you need to find me a fully loaded Silverado 1500 and deliver it to me, then you need to sit with me to do your exit interview." "Exit interview? You're firing me? What did I do?" "You impressed me Joshua. After you do the paperwork on my pickup, you no longer work for this dealership. I've been looking for someone to manage my auto group, and I found him on an impulse. Are you interested?" "Manage... wait, group... how many dealerships in a group?" "Well, I guess we need to figure out the right title. I have three groups, and between them, there are... Billy?" "53 dealerships in the greater Pittsburgh area Greg." "You heard him. I can't say how many are in each group, but I bet if you asked Billy he can tell you. I want you to manage all three, in a new position." "Sorry Greg, you misunderstood. There are 53 dealerships in the Pittsburgh group. 47 in the Chicago group, and 113 in New England. Will he be over California? Or are you leaving that as is?" "I'll have to talk to George on that part, he still owns just under half. I'm guessing eventually yes." "Now I know you're punking me. I bought into the vampire thing, but this... why would you hire a kid you just met to manage what has to be well over a billion of dollars of inventory?" "Probably, but stop me if I say something that's not correct, ok? You sincerely agree with Jonathan's approach to sales. You genuinely want to have customers returning year after year because you've made them happy. You're 19 and have your MBA from...where?" "I'll be 19 in October, and MBA from Wharton." "Seriously? I should fire you for asking why I want to hire you. Are you refusing the job?" "You just told me I'm not stupid, of course I'm not refusing. When do I start?" "First go talk with Samantha. From what you said to her, and to me, I'm assuming you want to become one of us?" he looked at Samantha for a second then back to me and nodded "Then we need to talk that over and make plans for that. We can sort out the job after we sort that out. Billy will set up a time you and I can talk. Samantha, I will not take the honor from your father, but as he will be working closely with me, I will offer to change him myself if you want?" "Dad would be proud to have our Alpha's son as his son-in-law." "I'll let you explain it all to him and the two of you can make that decision, the offer stands. Joshua, turn around and say hello to my mate Scott, and my Beta Billy. When would you two like to come to the house and talk about this?" "I don't have a lot to think about Greg, er Alpha. We can come tonight if you want." "Greg is fine. You'll learn when `Sir' is to be used. If you're calling me Alpha, you're probably in trouble. Let's go get my pickup, then I'll see you tonight I suppose? The two of you are welcome to dinner, at 5. In fact, Todd, would you and Lisa like to bring the boys as well? I'm sure my pups would enjoy some time with them in the pool." "We would be honored Greg. Are we dressed ok?" "Joshua is overdressed, but that's fine. I do have to get headed home soon, do you have a truck that jumps to mind Joshua?" "What's your favorite color Greg?" "I grew up in West Virginia, I'm partial to blue and gold." "Do you believe in fate? Come with me" and he led us out to a dark blue Silverado with gold pinstripes that was still being cleaned up after coming off the truck. It was exactly what I wanted, so I told him to wait til they cleaned it up, and drive it to the house tonight. I told Jonathan that Joshua would be leaving the dealership as of today, and apologized for leaving him short such a good salesman. Then Scott, Billy and I climbed into the GLS and once again, headed towards home. "What made you stop there Greg?" "I don't know Scott, I saw the sign and got this feeling that if I didn't stop, something bad would happen. Not really bad, but more like I would miss an opportunity. And that feeling got stronger as soon as Joshua smiled at me when he came outside." "I think your magic was involved. Humans have premonitions all the time and just blow it off. I bet you felt it so strong because you're tuned in to your magic." "You might be right Billy. I can't say. I guess we'll see what comes of it. He sure seems sharp, and his personality fits with my views on how to run things. I should have talked to you two before I offered to be his maker though, that will make you his parents as well and I did it without asking." "I've told you before babe, you do what you feel is the right thing, we'll all follow along and do our parts. I think he'll be a great addition to the family and the pack, as well as the business." "Well, I want to ask Frederick about it tonight. And I'm going to go with these feelings from now on unless he disagrees. I really have a good feeling about Joshua." "You don't think it was just the truck do you?" Scott teased as we turned in at the gatehouse.