"Mr. Bristow, I'm glad you could make it in. You gave us quite a scare at the holiday concert last month." Alyssia Meadows took his hand in hers, her thumb brushing softly against his knuckles. "I see you looking so much better. Sydney tells me you cancelled several business trips while you were recovering. I'm sure she was happy to have you home for the holidays for a change."
"Thank you." Jack gave her his most charming smile. "I will remember to be more careful the next time I ski."
"Do you ski often? I was thinking of going over President's day weekend."
Jack ignored the hint. "No, I really don't care for it. One of my clients insisted. Next time, I'll schedule the meetings at the beach." He forced another smile and smoothly changed the subject. "You wanted to discuss Sydney's academics?"
"Yes, of course. She's quite talented musically and I had hopes of getting her in to Juilliard. They have a wonderful pre-college course. I gave Sydney an application, but she told me she isn't interested. She wants to be a teacher."
"Yes, that has been her goal for some time."
"I hate to see such talent wasted on a teaching degree."
"Miss Meadows, …"
"Oh, do please call me Alyssia." She smiled brightly at him. "Miss Meadows is so formal"
"Alyssia…my daughter isn't interested in becoming a world class pianist and I have no intention of forcing her into a career she would come to hate."
"Oh, I understood from Sydney that you wanted her to transfer a private school. Since she told me you are a serious music lover, I assumed you would want your daughter to further explore her talents. This seemed like the perfect solution for both of you."
Jack stood, his features devoid of expression. "My daughter wants to be a teacher, like her mother. While I do wish Sydney would consider a private education, I will not push her to attend a school that specializes in a career she is clearly not interested in pursuing. Do not continue in your effort to convince her to attend Juilliard or I will visit your principal and ask that you be removed as her advisor. Also, you may help Sydney apply for the college of her choice, with one exception. She will not attend UCLA. If any paperwork arrives for Sydney from that school you are to shred it immediately. Are we clear?"
Alyssia Meadows nodded, her lips tightening in anger. "I assure you Mr. Bristow, that I only want what is best for my students. Since you weren't taking much of an interest…"
"I beg your pardon?"
"Sydney told me you are often away and you have no interest in what she does. You may not have noticed, but she is quite a talented pianist. Since you are not willing to guide her appropriately, I feel it is my duty to see that…"
Jack banged a hand against her desk. "Enough. You have no knowledge of the depth of my interest in Sydney's activities. It isn't your place to judge. You will not interfere, or you will suffer the consequences of your decision." He smiled coldly, noting the look of fear his words evoked. "Good day, Miss Meadows."
Jack strode out of the room, the quickness of his step the only indication of his anger.
~*~
Irina smiled smugly to herself, placing the headphones back into the box. The bug she had planted in the counselor's office after the concert finally paid off. Jack had been quite angry when he left Miss Meadows office. His menacing threat came through loud and clear.
"Served the hussy right," she told herself happily. Picking up the saltine cracker from the plate on her desk, she bit into it with relish, glad that Jack had so effectively dispatched the advisor.
"Prison rations, Irina?" Sergei leaned against the door to her office.
She jumped at the unexpected intrusion. "It's good to see you again, too, Sergei." She waved him in, ignoring the insistent roiling in her belly. "I may have a touch of the flu. The crackers help settle my stomach."
"The flu, Ira?" He walked to the desk, sinking into one of the leather chairs opposite her. "You promised not to do anything foolish."
"I don't know what you are talking about, Sergei. What is so foolish about getting the flu?"
"Hmmm. And what are going to tell me eight months from now, when the flu is born?"
Irina stared at her associate. "How did you find out? I was very careful."
"You were, Ira, you were. But I know you too well." He grinned at her. "When you returned from your trip last month, you were far too happy and relaxed. You had the look of a woman who had been with the man she loves and I know it can't be me." He picked up the teapot from the sterling silver caddy on her desk and poured out a cup of hot tea. "So, he knows you are alive?" he asked casually.
"No."
Sergei frowned. "No? You made love with the man."
"You know how injured he was, Sergei. He is a strong man, but everyone has a limit for pain. He passed out at the concert. I stayed with him at the hospital." She pushed a stray hair behind her ear. "He thought he was hallucinating," she confessed reluctantly..
"Then he doesn't know. How will you tell him about the baby?"
"I won't," she told him firmly.
"But, Ira, it is his child, too."
"He has Sydney." Irina gripped the arms of her chair as a wave of nausea overcame her. She grabbed another cracker and washed it down with several long swallows of hot tea.
Sergei moved to the other side of the desk, picking up the waste paper basket and placing it next to her. "Yes, he does. He deserves to know, Ira."
Irina eyed the basket balefully, taking deep breaths to calm her churning stomach. "I can't tell him, Seryoja. He is happier knowing I am dead. Alive, he will hate me. I don't want to see that hate in his eyes."
"It will be as you wish, Irina. I think you are making a mistake. This baby could be an opportunity for healing between you two."
"Or prison for me."
"You think he would have the mother of his children sent to jail?"
"I don't want him to have to make that choice. There is nothing I want more than to share my news with him. But sometimes the cost of happiness is too great and sacrifices have to be made. I love him too much to have him pay for my folly." She raised a hand, indicating she was through with the discussion. "What of the other matter, my friend?"
"Miss Meadows? She should be handing in her resignation any moment now."
"You're men. They are … discreet?"
"The woman will clearly know the consequences should she … talk."
"Good." She shoved her chair from the desk, nodding dismissively. "Don't worry so, Sergei. Trust me. Jack is better off not knowing."
"Perhaps. After the baby is born, I hope you will reconsider."
"I won't."
