“That’s crazy!”
“I’m glad you agree.”
Special could tell Zinzer still had misgivings about divulging the details of his relationship with Bliss. She had to keep the pressure on.
“I don’t have a lot of time. If you want to help us, great. But if not...” She allowed her words to trail off, but she knew that in Zinzer’s mind, the trail led to disaster.
He tossed back the rest of his coffee as if it was a shot of tequila, then crumbled the empty paper cup with one hand.
“Okay.” He sucked in a big breath. “What do you want to know?”
CHAPTER 39
“I wish you could’ve been a fly on the wall,” Bliss squealed. “My attorney stuck it to Fletcher yesterday. I know he wanted to dive across the table and strangle both of us. I loved every minute of it.”
Bliss, along with her brood, had dropped by Jessica’s Bel Air home to give her a recap of Fletcher’s deposition. Bliss’ excitement, however, didn’t rub off on her best friend.
Jessica frowned as she cuddled Harmony close to her chest. “I hope this is worth all the energy you’re expending.”
“Of course it is. I’m going to be a millionaire after the money I get from Fletcher for the next eighteen years.”
Bliss paused. Aiden and Jonas were chasing each other through the house.
“Will you two please be quiet!” she yelled.
The boys stopped their antics for all of ten seconds before starting up again.
“They’re fine.” Jessica was always glad to have them around and actually enjoyed the ruckus. “You shouldn’t yell at them like that. You have no idea how blessed you are. I’d love to have a couple of rambunctious boys tearing through my house every day.”
“I already told you. That’s totally within your control. If you want kids, then have them.”
Jessica exhaled, then kissed Harmony on the nose. “So when are they taking your deposition?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Are you nervous?”
“Nope. Mine is going to be even more fun than Fletcher’s.”
“I will never understand you.”
Bliss waved off Jessica’s downer attitude. “Let’s change the subject. I know Paul didn’t like the clothes I picked out. But why aren’t you wearing the makeup?”
“He hated that too, especially the fake eyelashes.”
“That’s insane. That pink lipstick looked really hot on you. I bet his mistress wears—” Bliss caught herself, but it was too late.
Gravity seemed to tug Jessica’s chin downward. “So you do think he’s cheating.”
Bliss reached over and squeezed Jessica’s shoulder. “I don’t know for sure, and neither do you. But I’ve laid in bed next to lots of men who were on the phone telling their wives they were working late on some”—Bliss held up her hands and made imaginary quotation marks in the air—“big case. Actually, screwing me was the big case.”
Jessica brushed her cheek against Harmony’s.
“But even if he is,” Bliss said, trying to offer comfort, “Paul isn’t going anywhere. That’s what most women who sleep with married men don’t understand. No matter how unhappy they are in their marriage, few men are willing to leave. I learned that early in life. So for me, sleeping with a married man is all about getting paid.”
They heard the front door open and seconds later, Paul stepped into the great room. He walked in and pecked Jessica on the lips, then tickled Harmony on the chin.
“Hello, Bliss.”
“Hey, Paul.” Bliss looked him up and down as if she was searching for some sign of his infidelity.
Jessica shoved Harmony back into Bliss’ arms and stood up. She was obviously fearful that Bliss might have the nerve to come out and ask Paul if he’d been cheating. Jessica walked up to him and placed a hand on his arm.
“I made lasagna.” Her voice sounded small, like a child desperate for praise.
“Can’t stay, sweetheart. Just came home for a document I forgot this morning.”
Jonas and Aiden barreled into the room, each grabbing a leg. “Uncle Paul!”
He embraced both of them in a one-arm hug. When he finally untangled himself, there was a small smudge on his upper thigh where Jonas had left a spot of jelly.
Paul stiffened, then glared at Jessica as if to say, See. This is exactly why I don’t want kids.
Jessica bent to examine the stain. “I can get that out. Just let me—”
Paul held out his palm. “Don’t worry about it,” he said good-naturedly. “It’ll only take me a second to change.”
He hurried down the hallway, returning minutes later in a new pair of slacks and holding a manila envelope. “Don’t wait up. I’ll be late.”
He was out of the door before Jessica had time to ask how late.
Jessica flopped onto the couch next to Bliss. Her eyes glistened with the beginning of tears. “We’re so disconnected. I just don’t know what to do.”
“For one, you need to stop being a so wimpy. I made lasagna.” Bliss mocked her in a singsong voice. “The next time he comes home, you shouldn’t be here. Hell, spend the night at a hotel without telling him. Let him wonder what you’re doing for a change instead of the other way around.”
“I don’t want to play games.”
“Well, you better start. Because if he is screwing around, you can bet his little paramour is playing all kinds of games to see if she can make him her husband instead of yours. Take it from me, a good-looking guy like Paul has women throwing themselves at him all the time.”
“I just love him so much,” Jessica whimpered. “I don’t know what I would do if I lost him.”
“You’re not going to lose him,” Bliss said with a crafty smile. “But if you do, we’re going to take him for everything he’s got.”
“I don’t care about his money. I want my husband back.”
“That’s because right now you have all the money you could ever spend. But once you don’t have any, I guarantee you’ll care then.”
Jessica wiped away a tear.
“But you’ll be fine because you’ll get half the community property, plus alimony,” Bliss continued. “But if I were you, to add some additional funds to the kitty, I’d get to work on getting pregnant A-S-A-P.”
CHAPTER 40
From the moment I woke up that morning, I had a bad feeling deep in the pit of my stomach. And now, as I’m about to commence the deposition of Bliss Fenton, the apprehension only intensifies.
The deposition is taking place in my office. Fletcher and I enter the conference room and sit down across from Girlie Cortez and her smug client. They look like giddy teenagers.
Why in the hell are you two smiling like Cheshire cats?
Someone watching the scene would have thought Fletcher was the one about to be put under oath.
As he sits down next to me, he fires daggers across the table at both Girlie and Bliss.
I nod at the videographer. “I’m ready to begin.”
As the videographer announces the case name, the date and time, Fletcher grabs my legal pad and scribbles on it.
Stick it to ’em!
I half smile and immediately scratch out his message with my pen.
I run through the preliminaries—name, background, work history. As to the latter, Bliss has no work experience other than a couple of jobs in her twenties. She’s definitely a kept woman. Rather than dive right into her relationship with Fletcher, I ask about her other children’s fathers.
“Was your oldest son Aiden the result of a planned pregnancy?”
“No.”
“And who is his father?”
“Dr. Joseph Franco.”
“And was Dr. Franco happy to learn that you were pregnant with Aiden?”
“No.”
“Did he want to have a child with you?”
“No.”
“Did he tell you prior to your pregnancy that he didn’t want to have a child with you?”
“Yes.”
Bliss is all smiles, which irks me.
“And how did you conceive Aiden?”
“We had sex and I got pregnant.”
“Did your pregnancy involve stealing his semen?”
“Nope. We did it the old-fashioned way.”
“And what do you mean by the old-fashioned way?”
“What I mean is,” she says with a huff, “the male part is inserted into the female part.”
Girlie covers her mouth to stifle a giggle.
I feel like slapping her.
“Did he wear a condom?” I ask.
“Nope.”
“Were you taking the pill?”
“For most of the relationship I was.”
“When did you stop?”
“When he told me he wanted to break up with me.”
I hear Fletcher mutter, “Jesus Christ!”
“Does Dr. Franco pay child support for Aiden?”
“Yep. Ten thousand—excuse me—I just got a raise. Twelve thousand dollars a month.”
Girlie pauses and whispers something to her client. Probably that she’s volunteering too much information.
“And what about your son Jonas?” I ask. “Who is his father?”
The smirk tumbles from Bliss’ face and plops onto the table. “That’s...that’s none of your business.”
She turns to Girlie, who belatedly jumps to her rescue.
“My client won’t be answering any questions about the identity of Jonas’ father. That information is confidential and is not relevant to this case.”
“It most certainly is relevant,” I counter.
“Doesn’t matter,” Girlie replies. “My client won’t be answering any questions about Jonas’ father.”
I ignore her. “Is his father someone famous?”
“I instruct my client not to answer,” Girlie says. “Move on, counselor.”
Bliss is boldly sneering at me now.
“Evidence of Ms. Fenton’s past deceit is relevant to our fraud claim,” I say. “So I’m leaving the deposition open pending the filing of a motion to compel Ms. Fenton to disclose the identity of Jonas’ father.”
Bliss grips the edge of the table with both hands. “You can’t do that.”
I stare dead at her. “I can and I will.”
“I don’t care. I’m not going to—”
Girlie holds up a hand and takes a second to calm her client. “Don’t worry about it. She can file a motion, but she has to win it.” She turns back to me. “Ask your next question, counselor.”
“Do you currently receive child support for Jonas?”
Bliss hesitates, then answers. “No.”
“Did you ever receive any financial support from Jonas’ father?”
Bliss whirls her head in Girlie’s direction and her attorney responds on cue. “As I previously stated, my client will not be responding to any questions regarding Jonas’ father.”
“Is your townhouse in Playa Vista paid for?”
“Yes it is.”
“Did Jonas’ father buy it for you?”
I don’t need Bliss to respond to my question to know that is exactly the case. The fact that she looks as white as a sheet tells me everything I needed to know.
Fletcher has a cheesy grin on his face. He acts as if he’s watching a boxing match and his money is on the fighter landing all the punches.
I wait for Bliss to respond.
“I already told you, I’m not going to discuss him.”
Girlie taps her index finger on the table. “Counselor, you’re badgering the witness. Either move on or we’re leaving.”
I’m not going to get anywhere pushing the issue further. I would just have to file a motion to compel them to produce information about Jonas’ father.
“Did you steal the semen of Jonas’ father?”
“No.”
“How did you get pregnant with Jonas?”
“We had intercourse. Same as with Aiden.” Bliss is back to smiling again.
“Was it your intent to get pregnant by Jonas’ father?”
“We were having unprotected sex, but I wasn’t really trying to get pregnant. It just happened.”
“Did you tell Jonas’ father that you were on the pill?”
“Yes.”
“And were you really on the pill at that time?”
“Nope.”
“Did you get pregnant with Aiden and Jonas because you wanted the child support payments?”
“No. I’m glad I have my sons.”
Her smile is annoying me. Time to wipe it off for good.
“What about Martin Zinzer? Is it your plan to get pregnant by him too?”
That question sends Bliss into a catatonic silence. Girlie’s baffled face tells me she’s never heard the name Martin Zinzer.
“Ms. Fenton, would you like me to repeat my question?”
Bliss speaks haltingly. “How do you know—”
“I’m the one asking the questions, Ms. Fenton. You can answer.”
“I...I need to speak to my attorney.”
“Okay,” Girlie says. “Let’s take a break.”
I ignore their requests. “You’re free to take a break as soon as you answer my question.” I want to hear Bliss’ response before Girlie has a chance to coach her.
Girlie pushes back from the table. “If she wants to speak to me, she can. Let’s go off the record.”
“No, we’re not going off the record.”
The court reporter continues typing. She can’t stop until we both agree to go off the record.
“It’s improper for you to take a break with a question pending,” I say. “After Ms. Fenton answers my question, then you can take your break.”
“No, I don’t plan to get pregnant by Mr. Zinzer.” Bliss spits her answer at me before Girlie can advise her further.
We finally go off the record and the two of them hurry out of the conference room.
“I’m loving this!” Fletcher whispers to me. “You’re like a pit bull.”
Bliss and Girlie return ten minutes later. Bliss’ little chat with her counsel apparently did nothing to soothe her. She still looks frazzled.
“So, Ms. Fenton, do you supplement your income by trading sex for cash?’
“No I do not!”
“So if I subpoenaed Mr. Zinzer, he would tell me he doesn’t pay you one thousand dollars each time he meets you at the Bonaventure for sex?”
Bliss swallows. “I take the Fifth.”
I laugh. “This isn’t a criminal proceeding, Ms. Fenton. You can’t assert the Fifth.”
“Oh, yes, she can,” Girlie says. “The Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination goes to the question asked, not the proceeding.”
“Okay,” I say. “So, Ms. Fenton, is it your testimony that your lunch meetings with Mr. Zinzer involved criminal activity, that is prostitution?”
Bliss snorts in contempt. “I said I take the Fifth.”
Girlie looks just as uncomfortable as her client. “Ms. Henderson, you’re badgering the witness.”
“Are there other men besides Mr. Zinzer who pay you for sex?”
“I take the Fifth.”
Fletcher rocks in his chair, enjoying the show. I fear he might break into applause at any second.
“Ms. Fenton, do you report the money you receive for sexual favors to the I.R.S.?”
“I take the Fifth.”
“I’d like to schedule Mr. Zinzer’s deposition for a week from today.”
I slide a dep
osition subpoena across the table that I have no intention of serving. Zinzer’s already told Special everything I need to know.
Bliss presses both hands to her cheeks. “Oh my God! Can she really—”
“Don’t say another word,” Girlie cautions her client.
My mission is more than accomplished. Bliss looks so rattled I feel like passing her a sedative. I pause to scan my notes. Now it’s time to turn to the meat of my case.
“How did you get pregnant with your daughter Harmony?”
Bliss shifts in her seat and props her forearms on the table. “With Fletcher’s sperm.”
“Exactly how with Fletcher’s sperm?”
“His sperm fertilized my egg.”
Bliss is deliberately sidestepping my question.
“Did you do it the old-fashioned way as you just described with Aiden and Jonas’ fathers?”
She hesitates. “Nope.”
Fletcher is leaning forward as if he’s having trouble hearing. He obviously doesn’t want to miss a word.
“Did you steal Mr. McClain’s sperm from a condom?”
“Nope.”
“Then how did you obtain it to—as you just stated—fertilize your egg?”
“It was a gift.”
Fletcher looks as confused as I feel.
“Excuse me? What do you mean it was a gift?”
“I mean he willingly gave it to me.”
“And when did he give you this gift?”
“On April twenty-seventh of last year, nine months before I had Harmony.”
Fletcher slowly eases back in his chair.
“And how did he give you this gift?”
“What do you mean by how?”
Bliss’ feigned ignorance is pissing me off. “Was it gift wrapped?”
“Nope.”
“Okay, then, how did you get his sperm?”
“I obtained custody of it when he gave it to me.”
Obtained custody of it? Girlie had definitely coached her to say that.
“Ms. Fenton, I’m not clear how you obtained custody of it. Can you explain?”
She takes a moment to grin across the table at Fletcher. “I obtained custody of it when I gave him a blow job.”
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