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“Frankly, I don’t see why they would agree to it, but we can ask. Is this Journee woman vindictive?”

“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never met her.”

Anna arched an eyebrow. Her gaze swung to Ivy, then back to Emmanuel. The look his lawyer levelled at him was borderline confrontational.

“I’m your attorney. If I am going to represent you, I want it to be clear that I will only continue to do so if I feel you are being straight with me. If at any time the information or the lack of information you provide becomes a deterrent to me being able to effectively represent you, understand I will drop you as a client in a heartbeat.” What the lawyer had left unsaid, that now sat in the air, was acrid judgment.

Emmanuel sat forward. Ivy could feel his displeasure pouring off him in waves.

“If you can make the request for a new sample for a retest, I can have it done at my lab.” Anna finally broke the staring contest she held with Emmanuel.

“That may come across as a conflict of interest.” Anna began engaging in a conversation with Ivy as to how, if they could get the sample, improprieties could be avoided.

Before they left, Emmanuel’s attorney made sure the air was clear between them. Ivy doubted it had to do with professionalism. It was probably due to the friendship she had with Frank. “Understand, while I am your attorney, I will do my level best to represent you. I truly hope this is resolved in a manner that you both find acceptable. However, in the meantime, we will have to play ball with the plaintiff and the courts. Prepare to pay substantial child support until this can be resolved.”

The money, however much it may be, really didn’t bother Ivy, and she was sure Emmanuel wasn’t concerned either. The amount of charity he donated both personally and professionally was exorbitant to some. He was generous to a fault.

Although Anna had prepared them, it was unlikely that the Journee woman would agree to another paternity test. It seemed Anna Harkness knew how to get things done. They agreed to have the paternity retest.

Ivy personally took Emmanuel’s sample. After hours, he came to her lab so she could draw his sample.

“Doc, I’ve been in your office, but other than a tour when you landed this job, I don’t think I’ve been back here.”

Very important work was done at her lab. It wasn’t the kind of work environment that you ‘hung out’ in. It was in pristine condition and the protocols she kept in place were stringent. Not that anyone would question her, but she was breaking one of her unspoken rules of taking care of this matter in the laboratory. The sample could have been drawn in her office, but she wanted it stored immediately in refrigeration.

Samples weren’t generally taken directly from people in the lab, but Ivy didn’t want to leave anything to chance. However, given Emmanuel’s extreme dislike for needles, she made some modifications to ensure he was comfortable. A recliner was moved into this space.

Anything Ivy could do to put him at ease, she did. Hell, Ivy even allowed him to find his comfort by rubbing her thigh. The distraction seemed to calm his anxiety. Manny looked away. No countdowns for him. She distracted him with holiday plans as she slipped the needle into his veins.

“I think we should go to Banff on Boxing Day for the Christmas holidays.”

“Yeah, that works. Benjamin’s board skills are really improving.”

“All done, here press down,” Ivy announced.

“Already? Good stuff. I didn’t even feel that.”

“Of course, I’m a pro. You can head through to my office. I’ll straighten up in here and be through in a moment.”

Ivy was so looking forward to having this mess behind them. The Christmas holiday was his absolute favourite, but he wasn’t his over-the-top self. His regular email to the family requesting their Christmas present request was three days late. Things would get back to normal once they resolved this bullshit.

When Ivy entered her office, Manny was sitting on the couch with his head tilted back. She took a moment to admire him. For the first time in a long time, he looked carefree.

Manny didn’t move a muscle, but called to her, “I can feel you staring at me, Doc. Come over here.”

When she stopped in front of him, his hands reached out and pulled her in between his open thighs. “Hey.” She laughed breathily.

“You know, Doc, what we’ve never done?” His hands left her hip and slipped beneath her skirt, caressing her thighs.

“What?” Her voice hitched.

“Made love in your office.”

Ivy searched her memory. They had engaged in love-making more than a handful of times in his office. But he was right, never in her office. She wasn’t opposed to changing that dynamic.

Ivy stood in front of the mirror, putting on the final touches of her makeup. The colours were neutral and added to her natural beauty. She had been rocking the same look most of her adult life. For the first time, she doubted if the understated way she applied her makeup was the right way to go. It seemed she was second-guessing herself a lot lately.

Manny stepped out of the shower just as she turned away from the mirror. She watched as he wrapped the towel around his waist. “If you keep looking at me like that Doc, you are gonna be late for lady’s day out.”

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