Office Affair

Chapter 24

Jocelyn: Hey, Byron. you know what would be even better than a message?

Byron: What?

Jocelyn: An invitation to dinner :) if you'd be up for that.

Byron: I've been dying to ask you out, but I figured you had a lot on your plate. I know you're meeting with Carmen tomorrow.

Jocelyn: Yeah, we're fully prepared for the meeting. We think we can negotiate a deal.

Byron: That sounds promising :) you're the best.

Jocelyn: We'll keep you posted.

"Work again?"

"Yes. I should probably get an early night tonight. I don't want to mess up this meeting."

"It was lovely seeing you."

"You too. We should do this again soon."

"Definitely!"

*The next morning... "I hope you're ready for this morning."

"Well, I've only spent every walking hour for the past week preparing for it."

"That's intense, even by my standards."

"I was occupying myself so that I don't think about all the naughty things we've don in your office."

"That's a shame. I'd have been more than happy to give you a refresher instead." He doesn't bat an eyelid as he speaks and stares straight ahead. Just as I'm about to protest, Carmen enters the room.

"I hope I'm not late. My lawyer couldn't make it, but I didn't want to disappoint."

"Please, come in."

"So, what did you call me in to bore me with today?"

"Just to let you know that this is your final chance to back out. It's not too late."

"Ha! Why would I want to do that?"

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe to save your time and money. Maybe to save you from breaking your own daughter's heart when she finds out all you're interested in is her trust fund. To give you a chance to be a half-decent mother."

"I have no idea what you're talking about. I love my Melany, and I can't wait for us to spend more time together once I get her away from her awful father."

"Byron is a wonderful dad to Melany!"

"How would you know?"

Greyson shoots me a warning look.

"Because she tells us he is."

"Whatever."

"Just so you know, when we're done here, whether you gain custody or not...We're going to tie that trust fund up in so many loopholes, you won't see a penny of it for as long as you live."

"You can't do that. My lawyer told me that once Melany turns 18, she will have control over that money."

"That's correct. And luckily for us, she's agreed to cooperate, giving us the ability to secure the trust fun on her behalf."

"You're bluffing! She would never do that."

"We can show you all the legal documents which we've kindly prepared in advance for you."

Carmen snatches the papers from Greyson's hand, and her face turns scarlet with rage as she sees Melany's signature at the bottom.

"So, are you sure you still want to go ahead with this?"

"The only thing these papers prove is that you've managed to manipulate a naive teenage girl. This is the reason Byron can't be trusted to take care of her. You're all mental in the head! I won't stop until that girl is in my full control."

Her cruel words give me chills, but I keep my composure. "Control and custody are two very different things."

"I wouldn't be so satisfied quite yet if I were you. You're not the only ones with a hidden weapon up your sleeve. I'll see you in court." Carmen storms back out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

"Hmm, that didn't go well."

"No, this is good. We've gotten under her skin. She has time to think about things and change her mind. And even if she doesn't, she'll lose confidence in her case."

"But what about her own "hidden weapon" that she mentioned?"

"I wouldn't worry about it."

By the end of the day, Greyson was proven wrong.

"I can't believe we stayed here so late going over files." "I know. Two hours ago, I was fantasizing about taking you right here on my sofa but now I'm just hungry."

I laugh and shake my head, handing him the files. "Dinner?"

"Sure. We're done for the day. Let me just check my e-mail." He gives me a quick kiss and goes to his computer and stays there, silent and motionless.

"Greyson, are you okay?"

"Damn. No, I'm not. I got an e-mail." He looks completely shocked and furious.

"Greyson?" I lean toward the screen, ignoring the intoxicating smell of his aftershave. "Why are you so upset over an e-mail? You could've just...Oh." The e-mail is short and perfectly explains his scowl.

"Greyson Howard, if you do not lose the Jones case, you will suffer the consequences. To get a taste of what we mean, please review the clip in the attachment. A clip that could become very public."

"This is insane. What could they have on you?" I move the mouse to clink on the clip, and I gasp when I see it. It's a sex tape. It's a video of my boss having sex...with me...

They are blackmailing us! If this goes public, I'm ruined!