Page 12 of Valentine Dare

7

Jenny

Over the next few days,I’d stayed at Claire’s house. She’d been good to let me use a spare computer so I could keep an eye on my email in case something popped up. I was sitting checking my email when I saw an email from Dad’s lawyer. I told Claire about it, and she told me to reply. He said he needed to meet with me urgently. Claire said it could have something to do with the papers dad made me sign.

I’d told her, things of the past too. She’d been the only one who wanted to help me, and I had to have her on my side. Not hide anything. Maybe I’d watched a little too much Suits, the television series.

I’d had a flashback of my life, digging into memories which seemed unimportant at the time, but in this situation, right now, I had to draw them altogether to put the pieces of my fate in the right direction.

We sat nervously waiting for Russell to make an appearance, he’d been the family lawyer since I could remember. He and Dad went to college together, and that was where they struck up their friendship. Russell had a lot of girlfriends. Whenever we had a dinner or party at home, he always had a new blonde on his arm. Mom claimed that some men never grew up, whereas Dad said that Russell was never hurting anyone. There was nothing wrong with him playing the field because he wasn’t tied down. I did wonder at times if dad was jealous and had some remorse whenever mom and he had the same argument after Russell would come to dinner with a new girlfriend.

“She’s half his age,” Mom scoffed the last time.

“Twice as fun!” Dad claimed, which annoyed mom even more, and he ended up spending the night in the guest room as a result of it.

I had no other emails, no messages from a friend or anything to find out how I was doing, then again, I didn’t really have any friends, well not anymore. Kurt and I hung out with both Darren and Dwight, who were his best friends, and their girlfriends were Rebecca and Chanel. We either did things together or if the guys wanted to hang out alone, then us girls would get together.

Our times were spent talking about the guys, things they liked and didn’t like. They were our worlds, and even if their company did bore me at times, it was the world I had accepted. The one I’d been grown up in and was told to love. Now, I was free to do whatever I wanted in the world, and I felt anxious about it.

“He’s here!” Claire smiled at me as she adjusted her shirt and headed toward the door. Her office was nice so quiet at night, not that big, but she had enough photos of the boys and her husband to let everyone know not only was she a lawyer, but a mom and once a wife. I did notice she still had both her wedding and engagement ring on her finger.

I’d known Russell for years, but our conversation never extended past, “How’s things going?” and thanking him for his compliment if I was dressed up.

“Claire, such a long time.” He smiled as he approached her. He strode through the office in a well-cut black suit. His hair was cut short, and he appeared as sharp as always. His brown eyes darted in my direction as he greeted me with the same smile.

I stood frozen as it dawned on me that they knew each other.

“Russell.” She kissed him, but she didn’t greet him with the warmth that she’d greeted me when she first met me. If anything, it was the opposite, as if it was stiff and false.

“Strange that we’re both acting on the same side. It’s a first, right?”

“It is indeed, Russell. Can I offer you water, coffee or something before we head to the boardroom?”

He shook his head. “No, I’m fine. I think it’s best if we all just get down to business. I have a big day ahead of me.”

He said his last comment looking directly at me.

She nodded her head and then pointed for him to leave in the direction from which he came. The security guard which brought him up to the floor soon disappeared as we headed out led by Claire as this meeting was taking place at night. Claire didn't want her nosey associates witnessing the meeting. She didn’t explain why, but seeing as they’d confirmed they knew each other, I didn't understand enough about the lawyer world to conclude why we had to meet without her colleagues being around.

She had her notebook in her hand, and Russell had his case, the same one dad had bought him when he graduated from law school. The only sound was his shoes striding through the long, white hallway until we reached wooden doors. Claire flung them open, and I assumed we must be in the boardroom.

My eyes darted around the room. I felt as if I was Alice in Wonderland. Hung on the walls were all the partners past and present. The dates of them being partners and the history of the firm was at the back. It was pretty typical for a boardroom. I’d been to Dad’s. The same oak table in the middle with chairs on either side. A counter in the corner, but this one had a mini bar and tray with fruits. I wondered how long they’d been there? She flicked on the light switch and drew the blinds; it was as if the room came to life.

“Please sit,” she said to me as I paced around the room. Russell was already seated at the head of the table, as if he’d been here so many times before.

“I just love this chair, the leather and the fact it’s bigger than all the other chairs in the room.”

It seemed to annoy Claire who winced and said, “Can we not be so formal and just sit either side of each other.”

Russell nodded and moved toward me, sitting next to me. I could smell his strong woody scent as he threw his case on the table, pulled back his chair and crossed his arms.

Claire moved to be opposite us. I felt like a piece of meat being thrown in the lion’s den as Russell’s dark eyes observed me.

“You’ve had a traumatic few days, Jenny. How are you holding up?”

Claire answered for me. “Pretty good, considering she’s been thrown out of her house, her phone line’s been cut off, she has no clothes, no money and no one to take care of her.”

He shrugged. “She’s eighteen. No longer a minor.”

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