Chapter 21
The breeze felt good on her face. Her wide brim straw hat was protecting her from the Caribbean sun. It felt good to be walking with the sand under her feet. She felt like she was in her twenties again walking her island without a care in the world. Memories were besieging her of back in the day when she was being pursued by most of the eligible men on the island including the alleged "greatest catch" thereabouts. Debutante that she was, she was feeling her "Wheaties." She was a beauty. Practically everyone she knew and met told her so. Did she have a big head about it? No, not really.
Tessa Pope was a special girl. The youngest of a family of four other living siblings, all girls, she had been spoiled rotten. Her sisters had taken up the slack when it seemed like their mother had chosen all but to ignore the precious little girl. Why? Because Tessa had been a last-ditch effort to save her mother's crumbling marriage. Her mother had conceived seven children in all. There were the two fifth month miscarriages, four healthy girls and there had been the stillborn son years ago. Tessa's father had wanted a son and his wife had been unable to produce a living one. All those pregnancies and no male child had been a problem in the Adderley marriage.
In her mid-forties she had tried for the seventh time and along came Tessa. Her father's disappointment was profound and so was her mother's. Amos Adderley had promptly left his wife for a younger version of herself. He eventually divorced her and moved away to have a bunch of sons. He had discarded his first family like they were old clothes. Back then if a father chose to ignore a previous family no one complained. Amos never saw fit to provide for the family he left behind! His wife no longer cared!
Tessa's mother in her sorrow became a hateful recluse. The rumor is that the hate eventually killed her rather than a broken heart. The older girls ran the house and looked after the "baby." After a several of years of just getting by the oldest girl found a "good" job on a neighboring island providing for her sisters until they could provide for themselves. The oldest sister Naomi sent all of those Adderley girls to university on the salary of that big time job she had.
The Adderley girls were beautiful, smart, and the toast of the town. The two in between Naomi and Tessa had married well. Their social influence had made Tessa the talk of the marriage mart the year she graduated from college. Potential doctor of medicine, Thomas Pope was her most ardent suitor. She could've had her choice of eligible bachelors. Tessa was thinking big. Being the wife of a doctor would mean a lot. It would elevate her status even above her sisters. She would no longer have to rely on their largesse. She would become mistress of her own place.
Problem was that she wasn't the least bit interested in the island "greatest catch." She had her eye on someone else but he simply wasn't interested in her. Tessa eventually made a choice and it was a bad one. If only she had listened to Naomi all those years ago!
All of that was spilled milk now. It was milk she couldn't put in back into the bucket. She had to move on. Beginning a new life in her early fifties could be tricky. She had saved a small fortune right under Thomas' nose. However, that money wouldn't last forever. She needed the divorce to go through as she had planned in order to live the life she wanted. Once she received half of what she was due from Thomas Pope she could began to rebuild her life. She would build her a modest home and live frugally. All she wanted was a nice home where she could have her children and grandchildren visit her. Those were long term goals. First up, her divorce from Thomas Pope.
Lunch and walk, that was all she wanted for now. Tessa had a delicious lunch of jerk chicken, grilled corn, and a side salad. The food at the Roma was extraordinary. Tessa had also had some dessert with her meal. The slice of cheesecake with blueberry topping was so good. She hadn't really indulged in a delicious sweet treat for years. Her husband didn't like sweets so they were rarely in the house, with the exception being the birthdays of the children when they were younger. Her children had missed out on so much because of the limited things her husband would allow on Overton Place.
She had been such an awful mother to Tommy and Olivia. It was shameful really. Thank God she had finally had the strength to walk away and hopefully save herself. What of her children though and the disgraceful childhoods she had been a party to? Would they ever truly forgive her for her years of indifference? They were grown now and had left the madness but it still made her sad. Olivia was only a few weeks gone. The damage was done and she should be ashamed of what she had allowed and Tessa was.
She walked on kicking sand and thinking of how she would put together her broken life. Jimmy was in her head now that she had left Overton Place. She was reminiscing about a love long gone. At this point did she even want a man in her life? Was one necessary? She hadn't thought seriously about a man and a sexual encounter in at less twenty years. Her experiences in the bedroom of Thomas Pope didn't count. They had been a duty that he insisted she perform at his command. In fact, in her mind, they didn't exist! They were blotted from her memory. What she did remember was the night she finally gave herself to Jimmy completely. All they had done before had been exciting and in many ways fulfilling but they had never had true intercourse. On that one night it had been different. She knew in her heart that night was the way a sexual relationship was supposed to be.
During the times she shared with Jimmy before Thomas had come home and claimed her, he had taught her many things. Sexual encounters could be very varied. They didn't have to begin and end in intercourse. During the months they were together they had done basically everything under the sun but breach her maidenhead. They had made up for all they hadn't done on that one night they had spent together.
She had shown up on his store step hurt and humiliated. Thomas Pope hadn't touched her in months and suddenly he comes home and awakened her in the middle of the night demanding sex. She had looked him in the eye and refused him. He would have to force her. Go back to your whores she had screamed at him. Turning her back on him she pulled the covers back over her praying it would be enough to deter him. Sometimes it worked. That night it hadn't. He had dragged her from the bed by her hair onto the floor. Pulling her up to stand before him he had slapped. He then berated her for her performances in the bedroom. He really didn't want her anyway. She wasn't his first choice. He had told her he could get more pleasure with his own hand than he could with her. He told her to get out of his bed and his house.
"And don't come back this time Tessa unless you are prepared to be a wife to me. You can let those high and mighty sisters of yours influence you if you dare. I'm warning you here and now. I won't have it. A wife must submit to her husband. Also, if you ever think to forsake this marriage, you will lose the spoils from it. Tommy is mine. I will never let you have him!"
She had put on her shoes, covered her night gown, and fled. She knew he expected her to run to her sisters as she had done before when there had been chaos on Overton Place. This wasn't the first time she had refused him. She had done it before. Her choices had always been the same, bow to his wishes or get out. That night he added her child to his conditions dare she not return to her tormentor. It was all too much. Her sisters had pleaded with her time and time again not to return to him. Fight him in the courts they said. Fight for yourself and your child. She was weak and beaten down by it all. She couldn't face her sisters again. Where could she go but to her family. She didn't have any friends Thomas didn't allow any. As she waited outside for the cab. She made a decision. She wasn't going to either one of her sisters. She was going elsewhere.
She had been looking for the help of a friend the night she had given the cab driver James Lockheed's address. She had gotten so much more. She had taken a cab ride to the location many, many times. And she had been welcomed. That was before she stood at an altar and said vows with another man. She had walked up the steps to his house and rung the bell. He had opened the door himself. It was late. It was obvious that she had awakened him. He was so handsome with those dreads pulled back in a queue. Many a night her hands had been entangled in those locs as he had loved her. She had lied to herself so much about that night. Sometimes she thought maybe it didn't happen. But it had!
That night he had opened the door and looked at her. She knew she looked a mess but she had chosen to come here, to him. She loved him. She always had. He didn't ask her in. He stood there staring at her the way he always did, with disdain. He was obviously waiting for her to speak.
"He put me out of the house. He doesn't want me there because I wouldn't submit to his wishes tonight. I refused his sexual demands and he kicked me out. I had nowhere else to go."
"What of your family here on the island? Why not go to them? Would they not welcome you? Why are you here at my home Tessa?"
"I have gone to them before. I simply couldn't face them tonight. I know it was wrong of me to come here I…"
"Again, why are you here at my home Tessa?"
"I was once welcome in this house. You were my friend. You were my lover. I'm lost in my own misery Jimmy but you are right. I shouldn't have come here. We are no longer friends. I know you hate me. It was foolish of me to come here. Good night." When she had turned to leave, he saw the reddened mark across her face. Thomas Pope had struck her!
"Good God! He struck you! The man abuses you?"
"Jimmy, this is my problem. I'm sorry to have bothered you." He came out of the house and pulled her into his arms. He placed a kiss atop of her head just like he used to do. It broke her that solitary kiss atop of her head and being in his arms again. She started to cry, sobbing.
"Tessa your husband is a brute and so undeserving of you. I'm ashamed for Thomas Pope. And please forgive me for disparaging you just now. It was my raw jealousy speaking even after all these years. Come inside, please." He closed the door and let her cry it out. When her crying stopped, he spoke again.
"Tessa, Thomas Pope must pay for his actions. I can tell by your actions this night that tonight isn't the first time your husband has abused you. You can't go back there. I won't allow it! He deserves to be throttled for his actions and I intend to see that he is. I could kill him for this. I will kill him for this!"
"Jimmy, please no! That's not why I came here for you to avenge the meanness and rage of Thomas Pope. I just needed someone not to judge me tonight. I need sanctuary Jimmy. I need a reprieve from the madness."
"You shall have your reprieve and Thomas Pope will get his ass whipped within an inch of his of his life. I swear I just might kill him!"
She had persuaded him not to leave her and he had not. Jimmy Lockheed was in her past. He had told her he would never forgive her if she went back to her husband. He wasn't going to have an affair with her! If she loved him, she wouldn't go back to her husband. He had desperately begged her not to leave him! Fool that she was, she had gotten up from his bed after having sex again and again with him and done exactly that.
Since that time, he had barely given her so much as a backward glance. He ignored her and treated her with disdain. They were in the same circle of islanders. He was her husband's best friend and still he wouldn't interact with her. In the last twenty-four years had he never said more than good evening or good morning to her? She didn't exist for him and she would have to face that fact.
Facing facts was one thing but dreaming was another. She had stopped walking along the beach and had braced herself against a palm tree. She stood there looking out at the beautiful Caribbean Sea and closed her eyes. She and Jimmy had frolicked in the Caribbean. He had declared he loved her holding her in that body of water! For some reason she couldn't let that one night that they shared go. It was like a balm to her soul to relive it. Tessa hadn't experienced love and tenderness in years. Thomas Pope was a selfish and conceited lover. Sex had always been all about him and his completion. After that happened sex was over.
The night that she had gone to Jimmy she wasn't sure what to say to him. True to form he had rebuffed her initially. He had all but turned her away. Then he had seen her face. He had looked at her face and he had wanted to kill Thomas. If she hadn't stopped him, surely he would have. She couldn't let him ruin his life on Thomas Pope. She wasn't sure if she had any power over the man but he had once loved her.
"Stay with me Jimmy. I'm alright really. It's just a bruise."
"He should pay for striking you, Tess. A real man doesn't strike women!"
Jimmy was as angry as she had ever seen him. He would find Thomas and possibly commit murder. She could stop him. Without a doubt she knew that she could. She stood in front of him and closed in until their bodies were touching. Tessa took his hand and brought in to her lips. Her kiss was gentle. Then she placed the hand upon her breast.
"Stay with me Jimmy. Be with me, the way you have always wanted to be. Make love to me, for real!"
She pressed her lips to his. The kiss turned to fire! When they broke the kiss she led him up the stairs to his bed, to their bed. They became true lovers and it was the best night of her life. They had fallen onto that bed and they were taken back to a place in time. They had done intimate things on that very bed but never had she been completely his. She knew what he liked. And she intended to give it to him tonight and much more. Without preliminaries she opened his pants and put her mouth to him. In no time she had brought him to the brink.
"No Tess. That won't be enough ever again. Tonight, we will be real lovers. I will have you naked in my bed and under me this night. Everything off! I don't even want his pieces of jewelry on you."
They stripped down to their birthday suits and it was on. It was like they hadn't missed a beat. They had practiced extreme foreplay and oral sex for over a year. They knew each other's individual preferences. Finally, he was between her legs, his mouth doing absolutely wonderful things to her. Things that she had dreamed about. Tessa was about to explode. Jimmy sucked and licked at her until she had burst on his face. He came up to her mouth and kissed her passionately. She held him tightly. She loved him so much. He was her own personal knight.
"I love you, Jimmy. I swear I do, only you."
"I love you too, Tess. I've been waiting for this my whole life to finally made love to you, to be inside you. To have you for my own."
He had pushed inside of her slowly like it was a blessing. They both savored what they were feeling. He told her how he had dreamed of this moment and how good she felt. He waited until he was fully imbedded inside of her before he started to move. Just like that, Tessa came again strong and forceful for the first time in her life with a man inside of her. How many times had he brought her to orgasm that night? How many times had he exploded inside of her? Again, that night had been the best night of her life! That one night of passion had sustained her through years of hell. She opened her eyes and pushed off from the tree and she started walking and kicking sand again. Memories, misty watercolor memories of the way they were tore through her but she walked on.
James Lockheed wasn't walking the beach but he was sitting in his office with his own memories. He'd been unable to get a grasp on the work he was supposed to be doing. He hadn't had a clear thought in his head for days. That initial call from Thomas Pope had thrown him off kilter. Tess had left her husband and truthfully it was none of his business. Yet, he had inserted himself in her business. He had a detail following her when she left the resort. He had promised Olivia he would look out for her. Unfortunately, today he had no thoughts other than those about Tess.
Years ago, he had finally exorcised the last vestiges of Tessa Adderley from his brain. He had willed himself to say she didn't exist for him. When he saw her in his daily life, he ignored her. In his mind he hated her. He didn't really but he had to fall back on something to keep her out of his head. It took him years to succeed at the farce he had build up about her. It was almost a year before he took another woman to his bed. Even then, the encounter had been clinical and biological. In fact, all his relationships with women after Tess had been like that. She had ruined him for anyone else!
All those nights she had spent in his bed claiming to love him before she married Thomas Pope, he erased them from his memory. And especially that one night after she had married him. The night when they had truly become lovers in the flesh. He pretended that night never had happened at all. It had been the only way for him to bear it; to pretend that none of it ever happened. Surely, she wouldn't have laid in his bed and allowed him to make love to her again and again and then call a cab and go home to her abusive husband after twenty-four hours? That was exactly what she had done!
He needed to get a grip. Nothing had changed really. Even if she had left her husband, it didn't mean that her character had changed. What she had done was unforgiveable! In his mind he could be a helpful friend to the mother of his godchildren and keep his distance. It was very unlikely she would show up on his doorsteps again as she had twenty-four years ago. He was being foolish to think she would. What he was doing was the right thing to do and no more. His relationship with Tessa Pope ended the day she went back to her husband. Whatever she did this time around he was determined not to personally involve himself. One broken heart in a lifetime was enough!
Today was implantation day. Olivia was getting her device put in her arm. She had read the literature and watched the video on the implantation. She was good. She felt good about her choice and it would have her protected by Christmas. Actually, she would be protected according to the literature before Christmas. However, she was going to let this news be one of Fitz' Christmas presents. "Sex without a raincoat," she was so looking forward to it.
Her monthly, which had always occurred like it had an appointment with her, would happen next week. That was a good thing. Olivia wanted their time in California to be uninhibited. Dr. Tomlin had said there was the possibility that she wouldn't even have a period this month as her body adjusted to the implant. She had used her photographic memory on the list of possible side effects to look for after implantation.
Olivia was hoping for a smooth transition. Her hope was to have the implant placed and continue on with her life. She wanted Fitz to be happy. He loved having sex with her. The implant assured that they could be spontaneous and free. She would miss Fitz telling her to put the condom on him. It had become sort of a ritual. He loved to watch her and she loved to do it. California, she could hardly wait.
Dr. Tomlin and her nurse came in. The nurse prepped the site and administered a local anesthetic as Dr. Tomlin prepared the device for implant. The match sized implant was inserted in a groove located between the biceps and triceps muscles on the inner side of her upper arm. The doctor had done several of these procedures and she was sure it was properly placed. However, in her practice she verified the correct placement with an ultra sound. Lastly the site was covered with a small wrap and pressure bandage. After twenty-four hours the pressure bandage could be removed. Dr. Tomlin wanted a new clean dressing applied to the site daily for four days. Olivia would be on the lookout for unusual bleeding and drainage.
As the doctor had stated earlier, she hadn't any adverse reactions to implantation in her practice thus far. She and Olivia had two weeks to observe and to see if the procedure had gone well. Olivia had the array of symptoms she should watch for and she was off for home. Naturally there was some soreness that she expected to go away in a few days. Dr. Tomlin would see her in one week for a follow-up. Both she and the doctor were pleased with the outcome thus far. She would see Olivia back in her office next Wednesday.
In exactly two weeks Fitz would be coming to Cambridge himself to pick her up. They would then get into one of the family jets and head to California. Olivia was very excited not only to see Fitz and his family, she had other aspirations. Secretly as a child and an adult she had always dreamed of going to California, more specifically Hollywood, California.
As teen that was one of her vices. She had used a portion of her allowance not to buy teen magazines but magazines about the rich and famous. Her interest lay with TV and movie stars. She had basically outgrown the obsession until she had met Gabriella. Meeting Fitz' mother the acclaimed actor and director had taken her back to those days. She was actually a big fan of Gabriella's. She had told Fitz of her obsession and he was actually taking her to Hollywood. They were going to spend a night or two at the Los Angeles mansion. He had said they may paint the town red! Whatever that meant.
All Olivia knew was that she would see Fitz in two weeks and she couldn't wait. This would be the longest they had been apart since they had met. Talking every day and night was fine but she missed him terribly. She missed having sex with him. She missed everything in the world about her boyfriend.
Last night he had given her the list of people that were scheduled to show up for in Santa Barbara for Christmas. Olivia had wanted the list so she could do a bit of shopping on this end. Right now, the list was narrowed down to the Grants, Grandpa Joe, Auntie Amalie and her husband, the next-door neighbors, and one of Gabriella's sisters, her husband and their teenage sons were on the guest list. Fitz had texted her the list of names along with a little history and background to help her with her Christmas shopping.
Olivia was taking off Saturday again to start looking for gifts. She was going into Boston. She had already shopped for her niece, nephews and their parents. The presents for Tommy and his family had already been shipped, and hopefully were under their tree. She had shopped for her parents months ago. At this point she was in limbo as to what to do with her father's gift. It seemed immaterial at this point. Her father had disowned her. She wasn't going to send a present for her mother to Overton Place. As of right now her mother didn't have an address for her to send a gift to. She and Darcie exchanged gifts but it wasn't a big deal. They would give each other their gifts whenever they saw each other next, which could be whenever.
The group of students in her study class usually made a gift exchange during the holidays. It wasn't a biggie. They had a fifty-dollar minimum on the gift. She had Harold Dobbins this year and had already given him his wrapped gift. You could expect usually a gift card to a department store or a reasonably nice restaurant. Harry loved the theater. She had given him two season tickets to the local theater. The group had a tendency to exchange very nice gifts. Olivia had been in Cambridge for two Christmases and she had gone back home for one. She would have probably gone home if she hadn't met Fitz but she had met him.
This year she was off on a great adventure to the second largest state in the United States. She was excited. She was now part of another family and she wanted her gifts to be special. The Grants were special people and she wanted them to like her. Fitz had said she made a wonderful impression at the party and at Thanksgiving. Olivia wanted to improve upon that during the Christmas holidays. The gifts she intended for family had to be meticulously chosen. The list and commentary Fitz had provided would be very helpful.
Fitzgerald Grant, Esquire was on his last case of the day. He had a busy morning in actual trial and he was presently meeting with a hot shot attorney attempting to negotiate a settlement in a defamation case. It would be better stated that the opposing attorney was attempting to negotiate a settlement and she was doing a piss poor job. He knew that she had taken Defamation 101. He had seen her law degree from Columbia on her office wall.
Her client had not only committed both libel and slander, the client thought it wasn't a big deal. Saying that you didn't realize what you were committing a crime, doesn't absolve you. His client was due compensation for the violations, thus the reason he was here. This was a multimillion-dollar-case. It was going to be a slam dunk at trial and DeVaughn Langston knew this. What this was, was an attempt to save her client some money and reduce her culpability. He also suspected that she hoped to use their prior association to assist her in acquiring that reduction.
Their association had been brief. The had lain eyes on each other walking the halls of New York City Courts. He had liked what he had seen and so did she. They had gone out on a few dates and ended up in bed. They were into about the third month of dating and fucking when she started talking love and exclusiveness. Whoa! He was having dinner, seeing plays, hitting the party scene, and having sex with her but he didn't love her. He had made himself clear from the very beginning. He wasn't looking for that type of relationship. She had tried to get him to change his mind. When he couldn't get through to her that they were simply friends with benefits he ended it.
They had seen each other over the years and had remained cordial. This was the first time they had been opposing attorneys. He had hoped they would keep it professional today. However, he couldn't imagine what she thought there was to negotiate about. Most monetary demands within a suit were inflated from the get-go to allow for negotiations. This could have easily occurred over the phone or with a letter. He was duty bound to listen to what she had to say. So here they were in his office at a six o'clock meeting.
"Fitzgerald, I'm so glad to see you up close and personal again. What has it been two years since we actually talked to each other?"
"Something like that. How have you been DeVaughn?"
"Excellent. I see that you are continuing your winning ways in the courtroom and I heard you are the most sought-after attorney in the city. In other words, your business is booming."
"Yes, business is booming. I enjoy my work. You wanted to talk about the case that we have pending, scheduled for trial in five weeks. My client maybe willing to negotiate a little. What's on your mind?"
"Well, my client is hoping to make a personal apology to your client as well as retractions where they are warranted. My client presented some very misleading information that she regrets. Also, this unfortunate situation has left my client in dire straits. Her website, podcast, guest commentary gig, and blog were all shut down because of this situation. Any over the top monies for this unfortunate incident would leave my client destitute. With small children to raise and feed, this would be devastating. Will your client consider the personal apology and retractions and twenty million dollars to end this?"
"Well, my client has also met with some unfortunate situations because of the lies your client has perpetuated and spread continuously for months. Your client's lies interfered in her livelihood and everyday life period. There are consequences to crimes DeVaughn you know that. My client has every right to expect compensation. I agreed to meet you tonight as a courtesy because we were once friends. There isn't any way an apology, retractions and that paltry amount are acceptable recompense for your client's actions. I would never advise my client to accept such an offer."
"You won't even present the facts I've told you to your client for her consideration? Woman to woman, your client might understand. Really Fitzgerald, the woman will have to sell all of her assess if she goes to trial and loses this case. If the jury gives you what you are seeking her life will be ruined."
"Devaughn, surely you know that I have the capability of knowing your client's exact worth. Your client has amassed a considerable fortune lying, and in some cases, telling what she knows is alternative facts about other people for years now. Your client is a vulture that feeds off of the misfortune of others. I'm of a mind that a jury of her peers should decide what is rightful compensation for your client's indiscretions. Again, there's no way I would present your offer as an acceptable one to my client."
"Somehow, I didn't think you would. Nonetheless I had to present the offer. She is going to be financially ruined Fitzgerald. Her husband left her years ago. That's how she got into this business. Social media supplied her with a way to feed her family and she took it too far. What would your client take to keep this from trial? One-hundred-millions dollars is a lot of money. She has saved a lot but nothing close to that. Give me a number you can live with. I don't want to take this case to trial."
"A minimum of seventy-five percent of what we are asking for. And I'm being generous. A jury may give us more than what we are asking for. Your client's poisoned pen and her lying lips have been vicious. My client has undoubtedly loss revenue, her reputation has been damaged, and her image tarnished. As a celebrity that can be toxic. It may take her years to recover from the damage. No less than seventy-five percent of what your client is being sued for. Seventy-five million is my one and only offer DeVaughn, take it or leave it."
"You drive a hard bargain Fitzgerald Grant. Done. Get the paperwork ready for signature. I want this one behind me."
"I'll have the paperwork sent to you tomorrow. I will also file with the court. It's been good to see you Devaughn."
The woman was sitting across from Fitz. She was a beautiful woman and she was looking at him and it was a look that had nothing to with the law or the case they had been discussing. He had seen it before because he had been intimate with woman. It had been a couple of years but he had seen that look of lust on her face before. She was going to go there. Wow! They had been done years ago. And for sure they were done now that he had found Olivia. Of course, she didn't know that he had found the love of his life but she would, very soon.
"Fitzgerald, now that we have that settled let's get a bite to eat. We can order whatever you like and take it back to my place. Do you still love Giorgio's on Tenth Avenue? Or we could get steaks from Lebinsky's. You name it, my treat."
"Thanks for the invitation, DeVaughn but I can't tonight."
"What about tomorrow night then?"
"I guess I should've been more specific. I can't have dinner with you tonight or any other night. I'm in a relationship, a committed relationship. I think you may have something in mind other than dinner and I'm not interested in that type of thing anymore."
"You not interested in sex? In a committed relationship, you? I don't believe that, not fuck'em and leave'em Fitzgerald Grant! It's a one-time invitation Fitz. I know you like sex and I like the way you performed it a whole lot. We were good together. It's just sex Fitz. Remember, you hit it and forget it! Your committed lover doesn't ever have to know."
"No, she doesn't but I would know. I would never do that to her."
"Come on Fitz. I know you remember how good it was between us. Forget about dinner then. Lock your office door and let's get busy." The woman unpinned her hair. Next, she kicked off her Louboutins, took off her suit jacket, and began unbuttoning her blouse. If he remembered correctly Devaughn wore bras that hooked in the front. She would unhook that front hook and the "girls" would fall out for dramatic effect.
There were men and women he supposed that had sexual trysts in the work place in the twenty-first century; he wasn't one of them. He never had been. He had sown his wild oats all over the world but he had an ironclad rule. No sex in the workplace nor did he have sex with his subordinates and for sure sex with an opposing attorney on a live case, unthinkable!
When his grandfather and father had asked if he were ready to learn about the family business, he was excited. He started working in various areas of the business at sixteen. He wasn't cleaning offices and taking out the trash. He began making the rounds learning the business as an intern. By the time he went off to college he had three rigorous summers under his belt. He wasn't just the owners kid hanging out. He had been there to learn.
That ironclad rule he had spoken of was drilled into his head the first day during the ride in by his father. Business is just that, business. Sexual liaisons had no business in the workplace. It was cause for immediate and permanent termination from Grant International. He continued to intern there throughout undergrad and law school. After graduation, when he had walked into his first office at Grant International, he had earned the title on the door. Much had been given to him throughout his life but most of his accomplishments had been earned!
DeVaughn Langston was a beautiful woman. She was around his age maybe a couple of years older. She had a gorgeous body. It had been enhanced by cosmetic surgery. Those breasts that she popped from her bra were big and sexy. Her body was devoid of all most all fat. Those two things are a turn-on for many and she knew this. Moreover, she considered her entire body an asset and a tool. He had enjoyed her body. He was a man that enjoyed women but he had been introduced to sex by a young woman that was "all" woman and her assets were real. Your first, no matter your gender remains in your memory.
What he remembered about DeVaughn was that when he realized that her breasts were fake it had cooled his lust and ardor for her somewhat. Yet he was still just a man that loved to fuck safely and indiscriminately at the time. Strides had been made with breast augmentation. These days if you got the right cosmetic surgeon, the finished product was very provocative. On first take they look real and beautiful until you got up close and personal. The feel of augmented breasts was different, many times nipple response no longer existed, and if you were a connoisseur of breasts as he was, often you detected suture lines.
As far as he knew she had never been married. Their affair almost three years ago had lasted for almost five months. She wanted declarations of love and she had wanted to get married. He didn't love her and he wasn't ready for marriage. She had attempted to barter sex for marriage. It hadn't worked and they were done.
Now here they were in his place of business and she was making him an offer she thought he wouldn't refuse. She had been to his office a couple of times during their fling and this side of her hadn't shown up. However, to be fair he was laying it to her almost every night when they first got together. The woman enjoyed sex and so did he. She didn't fake it. Those that he met that did fake it ended up having a single encounter with him. All of them accept Margo. She had been the exception. She had fooled him completely. At the time he didn't realize what a good actress she was.
Back to DeVaughn Langston, he needed to end this before it went any farther. He wasn't going to have sex with her anywhere ever again and most definitely not in his office. Not to mention what she was suggesting was a breach of ethics. She knew that and she knew better than to purpose such a thing during a case in which they were both participants. Surely, she knew that grounds for disbarment was in this scenario somewhere. Perhaps she hadn't been laid in a while and was desperate to fuck. Whatever her reasons, she was out of bounds!
"Stop the reveal right there DeVaughn. I'm sure that I don't have to tell you that everything you said after 'Lock the door, and let's get busy' is a code of ethics violation. So, whatever your intentions were, I will assume you simply got caught up in memories past. What you and I will do is pretend this incident never happened! I'm not interested in a sexual encounter with you now or in the future.
We had come up with a solution to our upcoming litigation. You had made an offer which I refused. I counter-offered with an offer you agreed to present to your client. Let's stick to that original premise and conclude this meeting. Can my personal assistant expect to hear from you sometime tomorrow on whether we will actually have to try this case?"
DeVaughn Langston looked at Fitzgerald Grant very intensely before she spoke again. She had however put the girls back in and had started to rebutton her blouse and tuck it back into her skirt. When she was finished with that, she picked up her jacket and placed it back on. Lastly, she put back on her six-inch heels and pinned her hair back up. It wasn't a long process but her eyes never left him. There was a profound sadness emanating from her eyes. Finally, she spoke.
"For a moment I had forgotten how cold and ruthless you can be. You are right. I did get caught in memories past. You and I were good together and once upon a time I thought we were on a path to something more than just casual fucking. You disavowed me of that fairytale! I was wrong then and I was wrong now. Please accept my personal apology as well as a professional one. I was totally out of line. I'm hoping as I have corrected my gross misconduct and breach of ethics, that what happened in this office will go no further. I'd like to have your word on that Fitzgerald."
"Consider it done. It was great doing business with you again. This last phase of this business will be handled entirely by my assistance, Audrey McDaniels. Once you send over your packet of signed paper work and of course your client's check, our business will be concluded. You can see yourself out DeVaughn, have a pleasant evening, goodnight."
The woman turned and left his office. He was glad she was gone. He was a little angry that she had thought he would make a deal on behalf of a client and then place her on a desk or chair and fuck her in his own office. The woman knew that wasn't his MO but she tried anyway. Apparently, she thought they were alone in the office and she could succeed with her plan of seduction. He wasn't alone. Drey was still in the office. She always closed the place down even if he had a late meeting. That was Drey. He was very lucky to have her. He pushed a button.
"Drey, I'm done here. We have a deal. Expect the paper work and a check tomorrow in reference to the Tisdale vs Anderson case. It's over and I'm glad. I'm heading home. Order me some dinner will you and have the meal arrive in about an hour. Are you ready to go as well? I'll walk you out."
"Sure thing, boss. I was waiting for you to conclude your meeting to close this thing down. I'll meet you in the grand foyer in ten."
They walked in companionable strides to their prospective autos. It was a ritual they had done many times over the years. Audrey McDaniels ran his office from lights on to lights off!
I ordered you a steak, asparagus, and a chopped salad from Lebinsky's. You haven't had them for a while. I thought you and Ms. Langston might have turned your meeting into a working dinner. She didn't look too happy when she exited your office. I'm assuming she didn't like the negotiations. Surely, she didn't think our client was going to take pocket change for all that manure she was spreading? Her client had one of the most libelous cases out there!"
"If you can believe it, she actually tried to plead that her client was or would be destitute assuming she had to pay a hefty fine for her infraction. Her initial proposal was twenty-five million."
"Twenty-five million. Are you kidding me? I know you told her to take that shit down the road!"
"Under no uncertain terms I sent her packing. I didn't beat around the bush after that offer because I realized that she wasn't serious. I made her my second and final offer. I suggested that she take it. She did and so it ends."
"So, what was the final take?"
"Seventy-five-million and court costs."
"No wonder Ms. Langston looked so dejected, poor thing. I remember a similar look on her face years ago. She doesn't have much of a poker face."
"No, she doesn't. She wanted to mix business with pleasure. As you know that doesn't work for me. I basically let her know that my casual sexing days are over. It didn't go over well with her. Anyway, I suspect after this case is final Ms. Langston will keep her distance from me."
"Don't tell me she tried to hit on you again?"
"She did, right there in the office. She wanted to get busy."
"Goodness. The poor thing is a glutton for harsh and unusual treatment. She tried to hook you in not long after your divorce, didn't she? Let's assume at this point that she just doesn't know any better."
"I told her I was in a committed relationship not to mention she was talking about breaking ethical rules right here in the building."
"White privilege and the Karens that it produces need to be put out to pasture. Ms. Langston knows better and she did it anyway because she could. What she suggested could get you both a date before a licensure board. And of course, you would put your entire livelihood and reputation on the line for her. Unbelievable! To be fair she didn't know that you are heads over heels in love either."
"She knows now and hopefully I've seen the last of her other than in a business setting. As it is I'm trying to see what I ever saw in her in the first place."
"I didn't say I told you so then and I won't say it now. Mainly because it doesn't matter. You have found the love of your life and I'm so happy for you Fitz. You had the role of international playboy but we both know that's not what you were or ever wanted to be. Olivia is going to be so good for you. I can see that."
"I can see that too. I miss her so much Drey. Are you absolutely sure we can't swing something before Christmas? I'd slip you a bonus."
"I bet you would boss man. I've done all I could Fitz. It was simply a bad day especially heading into the holidays. Neither of the partners were available and the one case you had for that day, it would detrimental to delay it again. You know if there was any way possible you would have seen her this week. I'm sorry. If even a day trip should become available you would be the first to know. I'll see you tomorrow bright and early."
"Yes, you will. See your later Drey. My regardless to James. Oh, I forgot to ask. Has Security gotten back with us about the addition of the new phone line for Olivia? I would've liked for that to have happened yesterday."
"Not yet. I let them know it was a priority so I'm sure they are working on it. Don't worry as soon as it's done. I will make sure that it is sent to her ASAP."
"Thanks, Drey. Goodnight."
His security detail stood outside of his car. These two had been with the company for years. As with most of Grant International Security Fitz knew them by name. Ali and Will were quite a pair but he knew that his life was in good hands. His father schooled him on security years ago. They were a necessity for his family. You never knew when some crazy goon would enter their orbit and proceed to do crazy shit. You should protect yourself but a backup team of professionals was always helpful. He settled in for the twenty-minute commute home. He would eat his dinner, shower, and do a bit of prep for tomorrow.
He looked forward to his nightly chats with Olivia. He couldn't wait until she was officially on line with the family, with him to be exact. He intended to ratchet up the heat between them with some good old fashion phone sex. They were a hot couple and he missed their physical contact. He wondered how Olivia would take to the tactic or if she would even want to. He hoped she wanted to! Two nights ago, he experienced his second "nocturnal emission" since puberty and the Jennie days. He knew it happened but grown men weren't supposed to have wet dreams. Especially those that had a regular and exceedingly spectacular sex life!
He was missing her so much. His initial dreams of and about her had been just regular dreams of them together, talking, and doing ordinary things. They had exchanged sexual banter on the phone all low-key stuff. He suspected that the closer he got to actually seeing Olivia again the more vivid his dreams would become. There wasn't necessarily anything wrong with dreams ending in ejaculation, he knew that. It was just surprising to him. That was a quick ride he was home. The team retired to their quarters and he went upstairs to the master suite. One day soon he would bring Olivia here to this apartment. It would one day be her home as well.
Olivia had gotten home and gone straight to her study area. There was a big exam tomorrow that she wanted to ace it. Going over her notes and research tonight would almost ensure her of a very high score. There was a regular group meet but she was opting out of that. Her arm was still a little sore. She was going to take a Tylenol, have a small salad, go over her notes and wait for Fitz' call. She missed him so much. He had said today would be a busy day. She wondered if he was even home yet.
She had ended her study session and had her salad. She opted for a quick shower and maybe to watch the news before Fitz called. She was restless and her heart was a little heavy. She wanted to be with Fitz. More and more she was thinking what could she do to make sure their relationship worked. Recently she had looked into possibly attempting at this stage of the game to start her internship at a hospital closer to Fitz. There were several outstanding hospitals in the greater New York City area. Was it too late for her to consider one of them as a start for residency? It was a subject she intended to broach with her advisor this week.
She wasn't at all sure about the saying of distance making the heart grow fonder. She was as fond of the man as she could get. She loved him more than anything and being separated from him off and on for possibly five years didn't make her happy. She was going to do some research and talk to her advisor. She would get some very real input on the subject. If it could be done and she would still be able to learn her craft at a top-notch hospital why not consider it as an option?
Olivia had just gotten out of the shower and conditioned her hair. She was sitting before the mirror brushing it out when the phone rang. She picked it up and looked at the big heart beside his name. The biggest smile came over her face.
"Hi."
"Hi."
