by TL Alexander
Lex: Of course.
Jules: Dear Lord, her right tit just poked her left eye and it’s all Jaxson’s fault. Now she’s calling you names. Not only is she not very creative, she’s blind as well. She just called you a fat- assed, ugly whore. Does she own a mirror? Wait just a sec, she just crossed over to my dark side.
Eight minutes pass
Jules: I told Jaxson this and now I’m telling you. To Mia, this divorce is between her and you, not her and Jaxson. I’ll let Jaxson tell you what she said, I’m too damn mad right now. She’s out for blood, Lex. I thought she was holding out for a bigger check, but I’m not so sure now. You said something about a smoking gun. I think you’re going to have to pull it out of its holster and fire it real soon. The woman is crazy, Lex, and she’s starting to scare me and I don’t scare easily.
Jules: Talk to you soon. J
“Am I interrupting something?”
I snap back to reality. “No. Don’t be silly. I was just thinking.”
He frowns. I don’t know why he thinks, when I think, it’s always a bad thing.
He sighs. “Jules said she texted you about our meeting this morning.”
“Yes. Is that why you’re here?”
“No. We need to talk about it, but not now.
“Okay.”
My intercom beeps. “Ms. Grant.”
“Yes, Amie.”
“I’ve rescheduled all of your appointments for next week.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m leaving for the day, and Nate wants to know if you want him to stay.”
“No. Tell him to have a good weekend and I’ll call him from London on Monday.”
“Okay. Have a good weekend, Ms. Grant, Mr. Ryan.”
“We will.”
I shut down my computer and join Jax on the sofa—our sofa.
I look at my watch; it’s just after five. “Will you make sure the boys have dinner before you leave the city?”
“We plan on stopping at Polo. The boys want to see Marco and Henry.”
“I talked to Marco this morning. They’re leaving for Italy tomorrow.”
“How long will they be gone?”
“He said a few weeks.”
“I wish you didn’t have to go to London.”
“You and me both, but Sam’s really having a hard time with the contractors. They’re yanking her chain and I’m tired of hearing about it, so I’m going to meet with them and say, ‘get your shit together or you’re fired.’“
“I like when you get all hot and bossy, Ms. Grant.”
“Oh, I know you do, Mr. Ryan. I’m going to miss the hell out of you and the boys.”
“What time are you leaving?”
“In a couple of hours. I want to go over a few things first.”
He leans into me and puts his lips to mine.
I moan, “I’m going to miss these lips.”
He pulls away. “You have no idea, Ms. Grant.”
He takes his hand and drawls small circle over my belly. Something he does a lot and I love how it feels and the sentiment behind it.
I keep thinking about what Jules said about my smoking gun and she’s right. It’s time.
“Jaxson, I know Mia is the last person you want to talk about right now. But I have a question about her baby that died.”
“Why?”
“Because we...I’ve discovered something about the baby, and I want you to confirm what I think I already know.”
“Are you going to tell me what this discovery is?”
“I’m not sure you want to know. At least not right now.”
He looks at me for a minute. It’s not a happy look, but it’s not a sad one. “Okay,” he says. “What do you want to know?”
“I was wondering if you remember the name of the heart condition the baby had?”
“I don’t know why you want to know, but I think it was called Long something.”
“Long QT syndrome?”
“Yeah, how did you know?”
“I asked Lee to look into it.”
“Why?”
“Let’s just say I was curious.”
“Curious my ass.”
“When I know more, I promise to tell you everything.”
He sighs. “Okay, I’ll let it go because I don’t want to argue right now.”
He takes my hand and pulls me onto his lap.
I lean into him as he continues to rub my belly.
“Have you thought any more about names?”
“You don’t like Peaches?” I pout.
“No, I love Peaches. I just don’t want my daughter to be named Peaches. Kind of sounds like a porn star...Peaches Gets Creamed.”
“Yuck, not a good visual. Okay, no Peaches. I’ll think on it this weekend.”
“Okay, so will I.”
“Jaxson, I’m truly sorry about what you’re going through with Mia right now. I know I haven’t been the most supportive friend, but I’m trying.”
“What do you mean? You’ve been wonderful. I didn’t want to get into this right now, but Jules said something to me after our meeting. She said that Mia wasn’t divorcing me, she was divorcing you.”
“That’s what her text said.”
“Maybe if we offered her more money.”
“Jaxson, we offered her forty million, and we agreed to take care of all her daughter’s needs for life. We aren’t giving her anything more. She’s not holding out for money, she wants you.”
“I think you’re wrong.”
“If she doesn’t want you, then she’s doing it because I have you.”
“But why?”
“Jaxson, Mia isn’t a stable person. There is no right or wrong with her, there is just what she wants. You know this, you know that somehow she’s involved with what happened to your parents, and that she was getting money from Harris and the outside audits.”
“Then what do you suggest we do.”
“I say let’s wait until the baby is born. Maybe there will be a miracle, and she’ll come to her senses.”
“I don’t think that will ever happen.”
“I don’t either but what else can we do? Jaxson, you have a good heart. You love this baby, and she’s going to take advantage of this fact until you stop her. I told you I would support you in any way that I can, but I have limits. She had a crime family threaten my family. I won’t let her control our lives. Mia is trying to force you to make a choice between us and the baby.”
“I can’t let her have my child. I couldn’t live with myself.”
“I hope you never have to make a choice like that. Let’s just let things play out. The FBI might just take care of things for us. I don’t know what Mia’s involvement is with all that’s going on, but she could be facing criminal charges.”
I look at my watch. “I need to get ready for my trip and you need to pick up Carrie and the boys.”
I give him a quick kiss, because if I linger, I’ll never let him leave.
“Is Lee going with you?”
“No, he’ll be at the estate with you and the boys. Kevin is going with me, and so is Lanie.”
“Lane’s going?”
“Yes, Sam was supposed to come home this next week. She can’t, so he’s going.”
“That makes me feel a little bit better about letting you go.”
I slide off his lap and he stands. He gives me another quick kiss. “Be safe, babe.”
“I will. I’ll call you and the boys tomorrow.”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too. Give my boys a hug for me.”
He smiles and leaves. God, I miss him already.
* * *
“Are you about ready to go?” Kevin asks me.
“Yeah, I just need to lock things up. Let’s stop at the deli and grab some dinner, I have a craving for one of their veggiburgers.”
“Okay, I’ll give them a call right after I check in with Lee.”
“Okay, see you in a few,” I say and put d
own my phone.”
I lock my desk and grab the files that I want to take on my trip. I pick up my bags and head for the door when my cell rings. I look at the name and number.
“Ms. Grant.”
“Ms. Grant, this Tim at the front desk.”
“Yes, what can I do for you?”
“I’m really sorry to bother you. I know you must be getting ready to leave, but there is a woman who’s insisting she see you.”
“Who?”
“A Mrs. Ryan. She says she’s Mr. Ryan’s wife.”
“Soon to be ex-wife.”
“Good... sorry, I meant...”
I laugh. “Don’t sweat it Tim.”
“Should I send her up?”
How many guards are on duty tonight?”
“At the front desk there are three of us.”
“Good. Sent her up but I’d like to have her escorted by you.”
“Oh...Okay. I’ll be right up.”
“I don’t think this is a good idea, boss.”
I look up and Kevin is standing at my door.
“She has something she wants to say to me, and I have something I’d like to tell her.”
He sighs. “Okay, but I’ll need to check her for weapons, and I want to tape your conversation.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less, Kevin.”
A few minutes later Tim reaches my office with Mia in tow.
Kevin stops her at my door. “Mrs. Ryan, I need to search you and your purse.”
She laughs and it’s the same laugh I heard years ago when Lane and I where swimming “high” at the Ryan estate. Like a cat caught in a car engine.
“I think this is a little overkill,” she says.
Kevin ignores her. When he’s done, he escorts her into my office. I don’t bother to get up from behind my desk. He shows her where to sit and walks over and stands at the door.
Mia looks over at him.
“I would like to talk to you in private.”
I smile. “I bet you would, but it’s not going to happen.”
She huffs. “Fine.”
“What do you want, Mia?”
“Wow, you just cut to the chase don’t you?”
I look at my watch. “Mia, I’m due to leave in ten minutes so...”
“Look at you, behind your big desk, acting like the big CEO.”
I roll my eyes. “Mia, I don’t have to act like a CEO because I am a CEO.”
Kevin clears his throat.
I smile.
“Whatever,” she says.
I sit back in my chair waiting for her to begin.
“I’m sure you heard what went down today,” she says.
“If you’re talking about your meeting with Jaxson, then yes, I know.”
She looks around the office. I think she’s looking for hidden cameras. But that’s why they’re called hidden. You can’t see them.
“I came to warn you.”
“Warn me?”
“Yes. Jaxson is mine, and I don’t care how much money or power you might have, he’ll never be yours. I told you once before that he always comes back to me, and I’m telling you again.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, it is. Alexia, I don’t want to see any harm come to you or to your sons, but you must understand that I have to protect what’s mine. Jaxson belongs with his daughter and me. He loves us. We are his family. He’s just confused by all of this,” she says, while waving her arms about.
“I think you’re the one that’s confused, Mia.”
She laughs again and I cringe. It’s worse than one hundred nails running down a blackboard.
“You’re funny, Ms. Grant, funny, but naive. You have no idea of who you are dealing with. And you have no idea of the lengths I will go to to get what I want.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“I’m not threatening you, I’m telling you the way it is. So you either step aside like a good girl, or...”
“Or what?”
“Well, I’d hate to have to say it. I think you can figure that out. There will be no more warnings.”
“I’m disappointed, Mia. I was hoping your lover would have me pulled over by a state trooper so we could have a little chat.”
She coughs and turns a little green.
“What’s wrong, Mia? You don’t look so good. What would all of your country club friends say when they find out you’ve been fucking your godfather?”
“You...you’re out of your mind.”
“I don’t think so. I’m not the one that got pregnant by my godfather.”
“You’re crazy.”
“No I’m not. Martinson had a sister and a brother that died from an inherent heart disorder called Long QT syndrome. It’s the same heart condition that your first baby had.”
“I...you...you’re insane,” she stammers.
“I hope for Jaxson’s sake that the baby you’re carrying isn’t born with the same condition. Jaxson is a good man and will do anything for his children. You’ve been taking advantage of this, and it’s going to stop.”
“Or what? What are you going to do, Ms. CEO?”
“I think the first thing I’ll do is join your country club. In fact, I think your friend, Carla Helms... she’s the head of gossip at the club, is she not? I think I’ll donate to some of her beloved causes, and I bet we’ll be best friends after that. Then we’ll have a little chat about you and your almost incestuous relationship with your godfather. She’ll find this very interesting because her best friends’ name is Maria Coletti Martinson. Then I’m sure she’ll introduce me to Mrs. Martinson, and we’ll have a very interesting conversation. Or, maybe, I’ll just go right to the top and meet with Carlo Coletti. I hear your godfather isn’t exactly his favorite person.”
“Oh, my dear Alexia. Go right ahead and talk to Mr. Coletti. He knows all about you.”
“Does he now? I don’t think Carlo Coletti knows much about me at all, but his uncle Frankie Coletti...I think he’s heard of me.”
I watch as all the confidence drains from her body.
“I’m thinking that Carlo wouldn’t take too kindly to you waving his name around like you’re his BFF.”
She stands. “You think you’re so smart and know everything, but you don’t. And you’ve seriously misjudged me, and the power I have. Give Jaxson up, or you’ll pay the price.”
She storms out and Tim meets her at the elevators.
“Holy hell...that was...interesting,” Kevin says.
“Yes, it was.”
What’s Worse Than a Woman Scorned?
Alexia
It’s Friday and I’ve had a long week in London. I was able to solve our problems with the Sheffield plant and things should progress without Sam having to worry if workers will show up. It seems that Sam never told the project managers who they were dealing with. She wanted to earn their respect without waving around her name. I get it, that was me a few years ago, but now I don’t care. Well, that’s not completely true, I do care. I just see things from a different perspective. I’m now the CEO, and I’m the one that’s ultimately responsible, and the longer they delay our project, the more money it will cost Grant. And the more money it cost Grant, the less I can invest in Grant’s future.
It’s been a week since Mia stormed into my office and spouted threats. I decided not to tell anyone but Lee what when down. I didn’t want to alarm Jaxson right before I was about to leave on a weeklong trip. I wanted to have some time to think about what Mia said and what my next move was going to be. I fired my gun and I know I hit a nerve, maybe even an artery. The question is what are we going to do about it?
I spoke to Lee just before I left London and he told me that the FBI agreed to step up Mia’s surveillance but refused to add additional agents on Martinson or Frankie, fearing that they’ll be tipped off. Lee thinks that the FBI is being naïve in believing that they don’t already know that they are under investigation. He also said that Gram had been asking him f
or updates and he’s filled her in. She e-mailed me and told me that she called my PA and made an appointment on Monday morning so we could all sit down and decide what our next move is going to be.
I’m fucking tired and I just want this entire situation to be over with. While I was in London I had dinner a couple of times with Calvin. Now don’t get all bent. We are friends, good friends. I needed someone to talk to about all this shit, someone that’s not directly involved, someone that could give me a different perspective.
Calvin pointed out something that I hadn’t really thought about. He mentioned that Martinson must really be in love with Mia because he’s putting himself at great risk to be with her. I took a moment to think about this and thought that maybe it’s not love, maybe it’s the thrill of the forbidden. And what’s the attraction for Mia? Is it love, is it the forbidden? Martinson isn’t the most attractive man and he’s nearly twenty-five years her senior. And for hell, he’s her godfather, her late father’s best friend. In the end I decided that it doesn’t really matter what they do together or what I think. I’ll I want is for my man not to have to worry about his daughter.
Talking to Calvin helped, but there was tension between us that hadn’t been there before. Words were never spoken, but it was clear to me that he thought my relationship with Jaxson was...wrong, that Jaxson had too much baggage.
For the first time I felt like he was pressing me to rethink my relationship with Jaxson and reconsider a relationship with him. Needless to say, I left London feeling like I was about to lose a friend.
* * *
I glide into bed, (a kid-free bed) and spoon my man. My pregnant belly makes it hard to press and rub certain body parts against his fine ass, but I make do. I lean in and press my nose against the back of his neck. His long hair tickles my nose. He was going to cut his hair, but I asked him not to. Okay, it was more of a challenging threat. If you cut your hair, then I’ll cut mine. Yeah, I play dirty. My man loves to wrap my long locks around his hand and tug on it as he enters me from behind. I think it’s some kind of primal mating thing for him. Me...man. Ugh. I fuck woman. Ugh. I pull woman hair. Ugh.