Checkmate

50

   I would've loved to enjoy the celebration for a lot longer than I did, but duty called. Once Jarred left, I began to tackle my emails. I was planning to take the next few days at a leisurely pace, and I couldn't do that with pending work weighing on my conscience. As I scrolled through my inbox, there was an email from one of my clients, Janette Freeman. She requested we meet up, not unusual, however, I found it intriguing that she'd reached out on her email. Mrs. Freeman was a busy woman and almost all of our interactions were scheduled by her assistant. 

Quickly, I sent her a reply and moved on to the next. I went through at least a dozen more before my phone buzzed on the coffee table.

I picked up the device and answered right away upon seeing the name flashing on the screen. "Good evening, Mrs. Freeman," I answered politely. 

"Kimberly. I was glad to hear from you. You sure know how to keep an old lady waiting," her throaty voice sounded in my ear.

I chuckled at that, enjoying how easy it was for this woman to keep things light.

   Janette Freeman became my client about three years ago. The first case I handled for her was a situation with her daughter, Colette. After the passing of her husband, Michael Freeman, her eldest daughter didn't take kindly to being taken out of the will. She went on a smear campaign against the family, a move that nearly ruined the empire her father had built. I was ready to fight 'til the end, but Janette was in mourning and opted for a settlement which, at the time, seemed to be exactly what Colette was after. 

Now as I sat there, waiting for her to fill the silence, a sense of dread came over me and my thoughts began to wander. 

"How are you, Janette?" I asked, genuinely hoping the last two years had been good to her. 

Janette sighed, "Some days are better than others."

I nodded, "I see. So what's this about?"

   The silence that followed confirmed my suspicions before she spoke. Janette was being blackmailed by one of the chairmen of her company. For once it seemed Colette wasn't the mastermind behind it all. Christian Maxwell, the chairholder in question, was a man well into his fifties engaging in what appeared to be a purely sexual relationship with Colette, his boss's twenty-two-year-old daughter. Armed with a sex tape that was recorded without her consent, Christian now threatened to sell it to TMZ. With a scandal like that, the board wouldn't think twice about kicking her off for someone better suited to reflect the image of the company.

After a lengthy explanation, during which I took meticulous notes, I was ready to refer her to my team for further queries. 

"They'll have more questions for you. Some might be very personal given the situation, but I strongly encourage you to tell them everything you know or might suspect about Christian that could help your case," I said as I dropped the notepad and pen on my desk.

Janetter sighed but it came out sounding more like a strangled sob. "Alright then. I trust you, Kimberly."

I nodded affirmatively, "I won't let you down."

   We said our goodbyes and I then called Micky to share Janette's new number and prepare him for her call. After a conversation like that, I didn't know how well I'd do during tonight's dinner. I'll have to try my best not to focus on it, or Jarred better have something amazing planned to keep my thoughts from wondering about this case. 

Right after I shared the contact with Micky, Destiny came in carrying a large gift box.

I gave her a coy smile, "Whatchu got there?"