Daddys searching, p.1
Daddy's Searching, page 1
Daddy’s Searching
Pepper North
Photography by FuriousFotog/GoldenCzermak
Cover Model Brian Naranjo
Edited by Cheryl’s Literary Corner
Text copyright© 2022 Pepper North
All Rights Reserved
Author’s Note:
The following story is completely fictional. The characters are all over the age of 18 and as adults choose to live their lives in an age play environment.
* * *
This is a series of books that can be read in any order. You may, however, choose to read them sequentially to enjoy the characters best. Subsequent books will feature characters that appear in previous novels as well as new faces.
You can contact me on
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at www.4peppernorth.club
eMail at 4peppernorth@gmail.com
I’m experimenting with Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok.
Come join me everywhere!
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Dedicated to a very special Tinkerbell whose friendship I treasure!
Prologue
“Belinda, please take a seat,” Easton Edgewater invited, ushering me to a chair.
“Thanks, Easton. I’m intrigued by your request for a meeting today. What did you want to discuss?” Belinda asked, taking a seat and looking up at the powerful man who headed Edgewater Industries. She crossed her fingers. She wanted that cybersecurity job so much.
“I would like to offer you a promotion. I know you’re interested in the cybersecurity position, but I’ll be honest with you. Edgewater Industries needs you in a different position.”
“If you’re concerned about my knowledge, I can assure you I’m focused and dedicated to filling in any small gaps with research and courses,” Belinda rushed to convince him.
“I have no doubt that you will be an expert in cybersecurity in a brief time. However, you are currently uniquely qualified to head up corporate technology. You know not only technology systems inside and out, you know Edgewater’s network and the key employees. When I asked who the ideal candidate for this position would be, you were every single person’s first choice. Not on their top five list or even top two. You were everyone’s top choice.”
“That’s very flattering, but…”
“Belinda, you’re not ready for the cybersecurity position. You haven’t honed those skills yet. The leading expert in the field applied and has been hired,” Easton said gently.
“The expert? Who, Pedro Morales?” Belinda joked. A picture of the magnetic, handsome man whose cutting-edge knowledge and experience overshadowed everyone popped into her mind. Something about his dark, swarthy looks and deep brown eyes did something to her insides in a totally unprofessional way.
“Yes.”
Did he just say…
Belinda stared at Easton. Her legendary unflappability disappeared. She tried to gather herself and stop her rapidly quickening heart rate. “Did you say yes? Pedro Morales is joining Edgewater Industries as the next chief of cybersecurity?”
“He will arrive next week. Do you know him?” Easton probed.
Rocked by his answer, Belinda sat back in her chair. Pedro Morales was indeed the expert referred to in every cybersecurity article, journal, and class. Her hopes of being selected for her dream position evaporated in a puff of imaginary smoke. “You’re not kidding.”
“No. I’m not. As much as I value your dedication to the company, the opportunity to have Mr. Morales protect Edgewater Industries supersedes all other candidates.”
Belinda nodded slowly. She strove to be at Morales’ level in a few years, but Easton was right. The man would be an extraordinary addition to the company. “I understand.”
“Your skills are perfectly tailored to become Edgewater’s chief technology officer. Would you be interested in discussing my plans and my hope to have you lead that endeavor?” Easton asked, meeting her gaze directly.
Pushing aside her disappointment, Belinda focused on the opportunity he offered her. Before she’d heard of the cyber position, Belinda had worked tirelessly to distinguish herself in the tech department. It was a dream job as well.
“Of course, Easton. Technology is my life. Leading the department that I’ve helped build would be an honor.”
Chapter 1
“Welcome to Edgewater Industries, Mr. Morales.”
Pedro looked up to see a giant man behind the security desk. They seemed to have their own army for physical security. “Thank you. Call me Pedro. And you are…” He let his voice trail away purposefully.
“I’m Knox Miller. I’m in charge of security. It’s nice to meet you, Pedro. Please call me Knox. Sharon asked me to watch for you this morning and smooth your way through the security processing for new employees.”
“The royal treatment. Sharon is an amazing resource for Edgewater Industries,” Pedro complimented.
“That she is,” Knox confirmed. A glint in his eye clued Pedro in that perhaps there was some backstory he was missing.
“If you’ll follow me to my office.” Knox led the way to the security office. He opened the door by pressing his hand against the lighted panel.
Knox waved him to a chair in front of a modest-sized desk. The office was designed simply with only a few decorative touches. Pedro was confident that Knox paid more attention to his responsibilities than to his elevated position. As the powerful man logged into his computer, Pedro leaned forward to study the only personal item on Knox’s desk—a photo of a smiling woman. It was a candid shot, not a professional one. Something inside of Pedro signaled to him that this woman was special. Could she be a Little? No, that’s not possible. Could there be more than one here?
Knox set the ID card next to his blotter. “I’ll need some information from you next. Driver’s license and any other form of identification, please.”
Intrigued to observe firsthand the procedures the company had set in place, Pedro unzipped the leather portfolio he carried and withdrew a passport and his driver’s license. He handed them to Knox, who compared his likeness to both pictures despite already having recognized him upon Pedro’s arrival from an unknown source. Knox scanned each into the computer on the desk before handing them back.
“Can I ask where Edgewater houses that information?” Pedro had already started his assessment of risks and weaknesses.
“Definitely. Each employee’s personal information is stored on a separate server, which is not connected to anything.”
“Just that computer?” Pedro followed up.
“There are two unlinked computers and a combined backup that is housed in an undisclosed location,” Knox clarified. The twinkle in his eye clued Pedro in that Knox was a professional who’d already implemented basic cybersecurity procedures. Pedro was going to enjoy working here.
“So, if I tried to snatch the computer and run with it?” Pedro asked.
“Try it,” Knox invited.
Pedro reached across the desk to lift the computer. It was securely bolted in place and the screen blacked out the moment he touched it. A thief could free it, but it would take time and wouldn’t be quiet. An expert could bypass the screen blocker, but again, the expense of time and hacker expertise would be a hurdle. He nodded his approval.
“Where’s the other computer?”
“In the main security office.”
“You set this process in place?” Pedro asked.
“Belinda Jenkins and I did. She’s the new head of technology, but a long-time Edgewater Industries employee. I look forward to working with you to fine tune anything we need to do better in security.”
“Thank you, Knox. I have a feeling we’ll have some long hours together.”
Knox acknowledged the suggestion with a nod of his head. “I’ll take a picture for your ID,” Knox explained, gesturing at the footprints on the floor in front of a camera. “Before you ask, it’s directly hooked to the computer as well, and the device itself doesn’t store pictures in its memory.”
Chuckling at the man’s perceptiveness, Pedro stood and assumed the position. He smiled, aiming for a professional, yet remote expression. Quickly, Knox completed the photo.
Knox walked over to a small printer and scooped up the ID card as it dropped into the tray. “Almost done. They’ll finish processing it as you complete your onboarding process. Ready to meet Sharon, who’ll walk you through HR?”
“I’m looking forward to seeing her in person. She impressed me during our conversations,” Pedro complimented.
“Let me walk you to her office.” Knox gestured to the door.
Pedro collected his portfolio from the chair and walked back into the hall. They walked the short distance to a door labeled Sharon Ross, Corporate Headhunter. Knox followed him inside and handed Pedro’s ID to the administrative assistant, who stood to greet them.
“Debbie, this is Pedro Morales. Pedro, looking forward to working with you,” Knox said, extending his hand.
“Thank you, Knox. I’ll be in touch,” Pedro answered as he p
“Pedro.” Sharon’s door opened, and she emerged from her inner sanctum. “I’m so glad to meet you. Thank you… Knox.”
Pedro noted the slight pause before she added Knox, as if that wasn’t the usual name she used for the burly man. Immediately, Pedro connected the picture on Knox’s desk with the lovely woman he’d spoken with several times on the phone. This just kept getting more interesting. Pedro watched their gazes meet and knew that glance exchanged a wealth of information. Without the picture, he wondered how long it would have taken him to put two and two together to figure out they were a couple.
“My pleasure, Roni.” Light on his feet, Knox left almost silently.
“Please, come into my office,” Sharon invited and led him to a comfortable seating area away from her desk, where two chairs sat next to a small table.
“Take a seat. We have an appointment in HR in fifteen minutes. Debbie will bring us some coffee,” she said, glancing up at her admin standing in the doorway.
“I’d love some water if that’s not too much work,” Pedro requested.
“Of course. I’ll take water, too, Debbie,” she said before turning to Pedro. “Are you taking notes of all the cyber risks you’ve discovered already?”
“Nothing that’s made me run out the door so far. The security protocols in place for dealing with the employees’ data impressed me. Your head of security knows his stuff,” Pedro complimented. There would be a million things he discovered that needed attention. Pointing out the positives as well usually kept people from being overwhelmed and discouraged. Balancing the psychological effects of change was one of the most challenging parts of his job.
“He does.” Sharon’s smile softened slightly.
Debbie interrupted with two bottles of chilled water and closed the door as she left them alone.
“Have you found somewhere to live?” Sharon asked. They had discussed housing on the Edgewater Industries’ property in one of their phone conversations.
“I ran into a few snags in the move and just arrived last night. Everything is in storage at the moment, except for the things I’ll need immediately. I’m currently at a hotel in town.”
“It has been a whirlwind getting you here. Easton is expanding the single-family housing. I’ll give you a tour of the campus when we finish here. I’m not sure if there is a house available now, but I know there is an apartment for you to use until they finish a home for you.”
“I’d appreciate that. It’s better to be close if something happens.”
“That’s exactly how our chief technology officer feels. She lives in the apartments as well.”
“Sounds like our philosophies will mesh,” Pedro observed.
“I have no doubt that you’ll work well with Belinda Jenkins. She’s the absolute best. You’ll see her in a meeting this afternoon.”
“Sounds like you have a busy day planned for me.”
“Here’s the schedule. If you’re ready, we’ll check off the second box and get all the miscellaneous paperwork finalized,” Sharon suggested as she handed him a printed sheet of their schedule for the day.
Pedro appreciated her organization.
“I can’t wait to meet Mr. Edgewater. His global design for this company is revolutionary in today’s world,” Pedro enthused. He’d done his research on Easton and his business before applying for the job.
“He’s incredible. You have a meeting with him this afternoon.”
After a whirlwind morning of paperwork, touring the campus, and meeting numerous Edgewater employees, Sharon ushered Pedro into the elevator for his most important meeting of the day. She had dedicated her day to getting him introduced to the company, and Pedro appreciated her time.
Sharon pressed the top button on the elevator display and leaned against the wall as the car rose. “I did check and there is not a house available at present. I’ve tagged you for the first choice when the next batch opens. In the meantime, I’ve reserved an apartment for you and had it stocked for you to move in this evening or tomorrow, whichever is easier for you.”
“Thank you, Sharon. I’d love to settle in. I do have a cat, Tinkerbell. Will that be a problem?”
“Not at all. What brand of food do you feed her?”
“Him.” Pedro laughed at her arched eyebrows. “It turns out I’m not an expert in determining the sex of a two-week-old kitten. I found him abandoned in the median of a highway.”
“He’d been dumped?” Sharon asked, aghast.
“Yes. A car had already hit his sibling. I snarled traffic getting to him.”
“Thank goodness. Tinkerbell is a lucky cat.”
“He’s a good boy,” Pedro praised his best friend before sharing the brand and type of food he preferred.
When the doors opened, Sharon led him into a vast office with gorgeous views over the green space below.
“Pedro Morales, this is Piper, Easton’s talented administrative assistant. If you need something and I’m not available, call Piper. She’s an incredible resource,” Sharon shared.
“She says that just because she hired me,” Piper laughed as she stood to shake Pedro’s hand. “But really, let me know if I can help in any way.”
“I think almost everyone has arrived. Let me introduce you,” Piper invited, leading them into the conference room.
“Pedro. Finally.” Easton stood and walked forward to shake his hand. “Welcome to Edgewater Industries. We’ll have some time to strategize later, but I thought you’d like to meet the heads of the departments I guessed you’d work with first. Take a seat.”
Sharon sat in the empty chair next to Knox. Pedro smiled when he glimpsed the large man wrapping a hand over her thigh and squeezing a gentle hello under the cover of the table. They were definitely becoming his favorite couple. Sitting in the next chair, Pedro noted that one last chair next to him was empty.
“Hi, everyone! A server decided to go haywire at the last moment, of course.”
Pedro stared at the newcomer. Belinda Jenkins. She was as gorgeous in person as she’d been on the Zoom call when he’d spoken for a cybersecurity conference. What had struck him most was not her beauty, but her thoughtful questions and the stuffie he’d spotted hidden behind her that peeked out between two ornate throw pillows. Delighted to meet her, Pedro stood to shake her hand.
“Mr. Morales, it’s an honor to meet you. I heard you speak at…”
“Cybertron,” Pedro added smoothly. “I remember. Belinda Jenkins, right?”
“Yes.”
Pedro pulled out her chair, and they both sat down to join everyone gathered at the table. He heard a faint sigh of relief as she settled in her chair as if she’d been walking on those high heels too long for comfort.
“We’re all here now. Let’s get started,” Easton said, drawing everyone’s attention and eliminating any possibility of speaking with the fascinating woman next to him.
Forcing himself into business mode, Pedro opened his portfolio to take notes as Belinda twisted the lid on her cold bottle of water; Piper had provided one for everyone. Her arm brushed his lightly, and she whispered an apology.
Pedro smiled in response and dismissed her concern with a subtle shake of his head as he listened to his new boss welcoming everyone. Her delicate perfume wafted past his nostrils. He enjoyed the light scent that didn’t overpower those around her.
“Oh, sorry,” Belinda apologized again when a lock of her sleek blonde hair clung to his suit jacket. She quickly gathered her hair behind her. The hint of pink in her cheeks was endearing. The thought burst into his mind that he wanted to feel her silken tresses against his skin.
