"Hello Matlock my darling."
He looked at his ex-fiancée warily.
"Hello Elizabeth…you look well."
She smiled and the guards moved closer to her.
"I'm here on business," she said, "and as the controlling interest in Houston Enterprises I'm seizing control of this building."
Matt and C.J. looked at each other.
"Excuse me Elizabeth but you can't do that," he said, "I own this building apart from the company in relation to my investigative agency."
She took out a tube of lipstick out of her purse and applied it thickly on her mouth before rubbing her lips together. Then she smiled at him again.
"I'm sorry Matlock but didn't you read the fine print? The investigative agency is officially a subsidiary of Houston Enterprises and so I own that too. I haven't decided yet or not to keep you on the employment roster."
He folded his arms.
"Then who will handle your cases?"
She shrugged.
"I'll just offer Roy a suitcase of money and since I know he won't take it, I'll just hire my own PIs and send them out to handle your remaining caseload."
Matt turned to C.J.
"Can she do this?"
C.J. nodded reluctantly.
"I'm afraid so Houston…I'm sorry but for what it's worth I'm glad you didn't marry the opportunistic bitch."
Elizabeth's mouth swung open.
"What did you call me?"
C.J. rubbed her arms.
"Look…Liz I know that your list of deficiencies doesn't include your hearing so I don't have to repeat myself."
Matt looked over at her impressed. But C.J. never backed down from a confrontation or a fight, not since the day she'd fought off the school bully after just starting there.
"Matt are you going to let her treat me like that?"
He smiled at her.
"You asking me that after you've taken over my company and now own my investigative agency too?"
Elizabeth scowled.
"Matlock I know you might think ill of me for doing this but I did give you a choice."
"To marry you…not much of a choice…I did love you once Elizabeth but I'm sure glad I didn't marry you."
She just looked at him incredulous for a moment and then the smile returned.
"Okay but I still get your companies so what are you going to do now?"
C.J. smiled at her putting a hand on Matt's chest.
"We'll keep ourselves busy," she said, "We'll have more free time while you do all the day to day work of keeping them going."
"I'll have staff."
C.J.'s mouth twitched.
"I'm sure most of them have turned in their resignation papers already," she said, "In fact…"
She pulled out her cell phone and checked it.
"Yep… our CEO Murray Chase just texted me and told me he's offering his resignation in light of the latest news about the company's future."
Matt looked at C.J.
"And that'll be great news for us because I already have a job for him and the others…and you do know that written in everyone's contract is a rather generous severance package that you'll have to pay."
Elizabeth just looked horrified.
"I'll go bankrupt in one day."
C.J. shrugged.
"Not our problem, the company is yours now. Houston and I have other things to focus on like investing in some real estate and since we still own minority stock, we still expect you to keep the earnings high enough."
Elizabeth's mouth quavered.
"But…"
C.J. sighed clearly enjoying herself.
"Now…Liz we know you're not working alone so we want you to go back to your silent partners and give them the news okay?"
Elizabeth erupted suddenly.
"Okay…but you'd better leave or I'll have my men throw you out."
Matt smiled as he slipped an arm around C.J.'s waist.
"No need, we were just leaving," he said, "We've got something to celebrate."
Elizabeth looked baffled.
"Like…what?"
He shot her a sympathetic look.
"There's more to life than business and work," he said, "It's too bad you never learned that."
He and C.J went to their cars and agreed to meet at his beach house before taking off just seconds before the security gates came down to lock down the building.
C.J. snuggled against him beneath the sheets, her skin drying from some of the most incredible…it made her face blush just to think about it. They'd picked up some gourmet pizza earlier and put it in the warmer before wrapping themselves up in each other.
Matt wanted to celebrate the ultrasound and looking at their child for the first time.
"I was going to put a copy of it in my office."
She smiled, delighted.
"No…really?"
He looked serious as he slipped his arms around her.
"Yes really…this is major C.J. us having a baby. None of the rest of what's happened matters…"
She nodded.
"I know and we still have enough cash and other investments to more than keep afloat…not that it matters."
He smoothed the hair back off of her face.
"You're right…as long as we're together we can get through anything."
Soon after she'd been swept off her feet by him and carried to his bedroom. She kissed him when he lowered her on the ground and ran his hands over his front messing up his shirt as she unbuttoned it quickly eager to stroke the skin underneath. His hands explored her too and she murmured as his lips traveled down her neck from her face blazing a trail there.
"Houston…"
Soon enough they were on the bed, their bodies intertwined and she couldn't imagine any place she'd rather be.
He pulled on a robe and went into his kitchen to sort out the pizza from Wolfgang Puck's and she went to whip up a salad. He'd bought some sparkling grape juice in lieu of champagne and poured it into flutes.
They ate cross legged on his deck while the sun set behind them over the ocean. The warmth of the day remained tempered by the ocean breeze.
"We're going to need a new office."
Matt nodded as he chewed his pizza.
"Uncle Roy said he knows a good building for rent not far from here."
She smiled.
"By the beach that'll be nice," she said, "I'll tell the employees that we'll find positions for them as soon as they can. Their severance lasts six months."
"Chris called me and said she'd meet us in the morning," Matt said, "She's ready to go back to work. You know I wanted to make her a vice president but never got around to it."
"There's still time with this new company," she said, "We might need one."
"What about you?"
She shook her head.
"I'll do all the legal stuff but I've now with the baby I want to try other things."
He nodded. He knew she didn't want to take any unnecessary risks now.
"That'll work," he said, "We're going to have to handle a lot of paperwork to get back in business."
She smiled.
"Hey I thought we were going to the book signing."
He made a face.
"I don't know if I'm in a hurry to get within striking range of Courtney again."
She chuckled.
"I know but if we're going to investigate Liz's silent partners, maybe it's not bad to start with the mystery novelist who killed you in her latest book."
"True…is it black tie?"
She knew he wanted her to say no, that casual wear would be fine.
"It's at a hotel I think," she said, "Better to be safe than sorry but I think Vince's clip on tie's got to be around here somewhere."
He sighed as he got up and they both cleaned up so they'd get ready for the event that was in Venice Beach not too far down the PCH.
Courtney didn't slap Matt again that night but then he kept her at arm's length. Literally as well as figuratively. Besides she was basking in the adoration of the press and her fans in the industry after people lined up to have her sign her latest book.
Matt and C.J. joined them and when they reached Courtney, she smiled at them.
"Matt Houston…and C.J. Parsons right…?"
Both nodded as they handed the copies of her book that they'd paid for when they arrived.
"It's been so long…we should really get together for dinner sometime…maybe drinks first. I have so much to tell you."
Matt pulled at his collar trying to see if her fingers were itching to smack him.
"Like what?"
She smiled widely.
"Oh I've always wanted to share my theories about who really killed Emily Armor. I think you got it all wrong."
C.J. looked puzzled.
"But Houston's friend, Wayne Slocum confessed to the crimes."
Courtney waved her hand dismissively but Matt moved out of reach anyway.
"Oh no…he took the rap for someone else," she said, "You can find out who by reading my novel."
"The one where Houston dies…?"
Courtney shrugged.
"Oh that's just to clean up the plot a bit and keep it streamlined through the conclusion."
C.J. digested that.
"And you made me look somewhat…"
"Mousy? That's because you are Ms Parsons."
C.J. sighed.
"Look… Courtney…"
The writer chuckled.
"Don't feel so defensive…I had him return your unrequited love just before he got iced in chapter 18."
C.J. looked at Matt who looked amused.
"Courtney…you seemed quite upset with me when we last met up."
She nodded.
"I know and I'm so sorry about that," she said, "but when you falsely accused my secret lover I had to hit you. I was just so…emotional…it won't happen again."
Matt smiled.
"That's a relief."
She turned towards C.J.
"And you're not really bad looking…you just need a makeover."
Matt cleared his throat.
"I lost my company today."
Courtney nodded.
"I read all about it in that rag, the Daily Mirror and I am appalled. It's just so tacky to do a corporate takeover because some guy doesn't want to marry you."
"Thank you Courtney."
"Besides, if you really want to get back at them, kill them off in a novel. All the pleasure and no prison time."
Matt didn't know how to respond to that. Courtney smiled at him again.
"But I know where this is going Mr. Houston and no, I'm not in collusion with your ex. I wouldn't have anything to do with a classless bimbo like that…though she might show up in one of my books."
They had their books signed because Matt became convinced that Courtney hadn't been involved in the takeover. They left the hotel soon after and headed on back home.
"We're done here," he said, "Let's go back to bed."
She rested her head against his shoulder as they headed back to his car, in total agreement.