Chapter 11

Simone Wellington had been hoping that, at this late hour, they would not show up and was beginning to relax when she heard the whispers and the stir of interest from the group near the gallery”s door.

From her position on the second floor, where she had been pretending to enjoy the conversation going on around her, she could see the doorway clearly and felt her heart bursting inside her chest when she saw the couple.

They stopped to talk to Matthew and his wife, and she could see that Marcel was holding her hand.

That bastard! She thought furiously as she gripped the stem of her champagne glass. The bitch was wearing what appeared to be a designer dress, the color of ripe plums, and diamonds were at her throat and lobes.

Her hair was loose, the curls tumbling down her back, and that fool Marcel was staring at her as if she was prized gold. The bastard! She thought viciously.

“Darling-”

“Don’t!” She whispered fiercely, rounding on her hapless husband. “Just leave me alone.”

“Still?” Peter gripped her arm and prevented her from leaving. He lowered his voice, leading her to a corner of the cast room. “You are embarrassing yourself.”

“And you?” She asked sulkily, blue eyes flashing.

“My dear, I am getting used to it.” His face hardened. “Hadley is obviously over you; it’s time for you to do the same. We are going to be attending most of the same functions—what are you going to do? Hide in a corner of the room each time you see them?”

“I begged you to let us stay home, and you did not listen!”

“That’s because I am part of the company, and this auction means a lot to the firm,” he said, shaking her. “I am asking you, for both our sakes, to get a grip and compose yourself.”

“Or?” She asked scornfully.”

His eyes slid over her beautiful face scornfully. “Or you are going to regret it sorely.” With that warning, he stepped back and walked away from her.

Swallowing the champagne and her anger, Simone leaned off the wall and went to find him.

*****

“I see things are going well with you and my son.” Wendy smiled at her daughter-in-law.

“We seem to be.” Nikki’s eyes wandered to the partners, including her husband, brother, and dad. She had noticed a coolness between him and James but was unsure; she wanted to ask him why.

“You look happy.”

She was about to answer when she caught sight of the woman descending the stairs, a champagne glass in one hand and the other trailing along the banister.

She had not seen Simone Wellington since she had blown up on her in Marcel’s office. And she had not confronted her husband with the information his father had given her about their meeting later that day.

The truth is, she did not want to know if he had been with the woman. Trying not to notice how beautiful she was, she tore her gaze from Simone and turned to her mother-in-law.

“You don’t need to worry about her,” Wendy said quietly.

“Do I look worried?” Lifting the champagne to her lips, she took a sip and tried not to notice the woman approaching the group where her husband was.

“That shameless bitch!” She hissed.

“Nikki-”

“I cannot believe how brazen she is.”

Putting her glass away, she was about to march over there when she noticed that Marcel was making his way toward her after saying something briefly to her.

“Hi.” She was so happy that he had walked away that she simply wanted to throw herself in his arms.

“Hi.” His golden eyes searched her face. “There is something I need to show you.”

“Really? Where?”

Taking the glass from her, he handed it to the waiter. “Mother, would you excuse us?”

“Of course.” Wendy gave them a pleased smile.

Taking her hand, he led the way to the left flight of stairs that led to a large room with a few people milling around. He was still holding her hand, his fingers curled against hers.

“What are we looking at?” she asked, staring at the explosion of colors on the canvas.

“What do you think?”

“Wait, is that a Jackson Colby?”

“One of his more recent pieces. I think it would look great in your office.”

She turned to look at him, her heart pumping with joy. “You are buying me a painting? For my office?”

“Do you like it?” He asked with raised brows.

“I love it.”

“Then it’s settled.”

“You are buying a painting for my office.”

“Your walls are bare.”

“That’s true.” Turning to face him, she gave him a curious look. “Why?”

“A simple thank you will do.”

“Thank you. Why?”

Shaking his head, he grinned at her. “You are my wife, and I like spending money on you.”

“You keep throwing that word around.”

“What word?”

“Wife.”

“Well, you are, aren’t you?” Nodding to an acquaintance, he led her to another painting where a couple they knew were standing.

*****

He was falling in love with her. He was not ready to say it to her, but he knew that being with her made him incredibly happy. He had seen the expression on her exquisite face when Simone came over, and after a brief conversation with her, he had extricated himself to go to his wife.

He had not wanted to hurt her, and lately, he had been hoping she was carrying his child. The idea of his seed growing inside her was more than he could bear. They had left the auction early and barely entered the bedroom before he was on her. A smile touched his lips as he tipped his head down to stare at her.

He had bought her a painting for her office and would have bought her another one, or even two more if she had not protested.

“It’s for a worthy cause,” he reminded her with a grin.

He had watched her from where he had been mingling with the other partners and felt pride swelling inside his chest. She was quickly the most beautiful woman in the room and was his.

She stirred in his arms, sleepily throwing a graceful leg over both of his and burrowing closer to him, her face pressing into his chest. Tipping his head down, he studied the pert nose, the curve of her cheek, and the lush bottom lip that was making saliva pool inside his mouth.

She was beautiful, and if he had not been so pissed at the comment she had made about him when she first started at the firm, he would have noticed her. He did notice her, he realized. He had noticed that she was not afraid to speak up in meetings. She had come in as an associate and had not lingered there.

She had come to the attention of his dad months after she had started. She had taken on a class action suit that the rest of the associates had balked at, and she had won. That, along with her ability to dig into a case, fight for the client, and be bold, had made her a junior partner faster than anyone at the company.

His father had commented that they did not get along because she reminded Marcel of himself. He had scoffed at that, but he realized it was true.

Emotions washed through him as he recalled their haste to get to each other’s flesh. The bite mark from the other night’s tempestuous lovemaking was like a trophy for him. It was gradually fading, but there were others. Nail marks on his chest indicate the loss of control on her part. He had marked her, too.

Bruises on her breasts and her stomach where he had nibbled hungrily. She brought out the animal in him and made him feel like a raunchy schoolboy with his first crush. He fell in love with her; it was so powerful that it scared his life.

Suddenly, it did not matter that the marriage had been an arrangement - nothing else mattered but that she was his.

*****

“I am not backing down from my lawsuit, and I will not be intimidated by the likes of you.”

The man said with a glower as he stared at Marcel. “You think just because you are some bigshot lawyers and the son of a multi-billionaire, you can come in here and threaten me? Well, think again.”

“It’s not a threat, Mr. Lowe. Marcel turned to the man’s lawyer. “Eric, would you please advise your client that we are prepared to go before the grand jury with what we have discovered?”

“You have nothing!”

Eric placed a soothing hand on the irate man’s arm to prevent him from saying anything else.

“My client has been a doctor at Mercy for the past twenty years and dedicated his life to serving that hospital and its patients at the expense of his own life. He is not prepared to accept that they are getting rid of him because of one mistake.”

“One mistake?” Marcel gave him an incredulous look. “He deliberately euthanized a patient. That’s illegal in this state.”

“My patient was suffering. His quality of life was diminished. He had Parkinson’s and could not take care of himself.

He was a vibrant man, owner of a successful company, and the disease rendered him incapable of making decisions- of simply brushing his teeth. Day after day, he begged me to let him out of his misery, and I could not take it anymore. My patients are my only concern.”

“You are still not seeing the big picture here. You took it upon yourself to play God. It was not your call. You were part of a team. Mercy Hospital was your employer, and by doing what you did, you opened the hospital up to a lawsuit, which was a very damaging one.”

“I am not going away quietly. You think I am the only doctor with skeletons in his closet?” He looked around the room at the members of the board. “I know things, and I am prepared to spill my guts. Drugs are being used that the FDA has not sanctioned. Clinical trials are being shelved because of the awful side effects. I know everything-”

“Eric, please advise your client that if he continues in this manner, we will add additional charges to the ones he is already facing.”

Leaning back in his chair, Marcel watched as Eric whispered to his client. A few minutes had elapsed before the lawyer faced Marcel and the board. “I would like a day to confer with my client,” he said.

With a nod, Marcel rose and gathered the files he had brought to the conference room. “You have twenty-four hours.” Turning to look at the doctor, he added. “Take the deal; it’s the best you will get.”

*****

Her door was open, and he took pleasure in staring at her. She was seated on the comfortable sofa and had kicked off her killer heels, the red shoes in front of the couch.

They showered together, and he picked out her elegant navy blue pantsuit with a thin red silk blouse inside. She had ditched the jacket, and the red silk was striking against her caramel complexion. Her hair was loose, falling in wild curls down her back.

“Is this what we are paying you for?”

Her head lifted, and he felt thrilled at the warmth of her dark brown eyes and ready smile.

“I believe it is. How was it?”

Coming further into the office, he sat next to her and pulled her feet on his lap.

“Surprisingly painless. The good doctor insists that he did what was best for the patient and at the patient’s insistence. He has done it before, which gives us leverage to push our case.”

He nodded towards the document in her hands. “Is that the Lindell’s merger?”

“Yes. I would like you to look over it before I submit it to them.”

“I will take it with me when I am leaving. We could go out for dinner later. How does that sound?”

“Wonderful.” Tilting her head, she looked at him, taking in the immaculately styled hair and the way the light pink shirt stretched across his broad shoulders. “Is that a yes?”

“Absolutely.”

His phone pinged. “My next appointment.” Pulling her on his lap, he framed her face with his hands. His golden eyes wandered over her exquisite face and stopped at her lips. “I want you,” he whispered against her lips.

“Here? Now?”

“Yes.” Bending his head, he devoured her mouth and had her clinging to him weakly.

“But it will have to wait until later.” Kissing her roughly, he reluctantly set her aside and rose. “See what you do to me.” Shifting his jacket, he did his best to hide the evidence of his arousal.

“Sorry?” She grinned at him impishly, her own body flushed and heated.

“Remind me to pay you back later.”

“Oh, I will.”

He left her office with a wave, and she could not concentrate on anything for the next few minutes.

*****

“I see you and Marcel are making things work.” James gestured her to a chair in the corner of the room. “Drink?”

“Nothing for me, thanks. Marcel and I are going to dinner. His idea.”

“That’s good.” James poured a finger of scotch and took it to his desk. Instead of going around it, he sat on the edge, the glass cradled in his hands. “He is still at odds with me.”

“Have you tried talking to him?”

James smiled at that. “Did I tell you the story of when your husband was fifteen?”

“No. And any story of my husband at any age fascinates me.”

Taking a sip of his drink, James was silent for a few seconds.

“He had a penchant for taking in lost causes, stray animals, and scholarship kids at that fancy boy’s school he and his brother attended. There was this Indian boy who was being constantly bullied, regrettably because of how different he was and the fact that his English was not quite good.

Marcel went out of his way to befriend the youth. Of course, his friends disapproved that he had made friends with the kid. And they gave him an ultimatum. Drop the kid, or they wouldn’t be his friends anymore. He belonged to the most exclusive group at that school because of his looks and resources.”

“Let me guess - my husband ignored the warning and continued to befriend the youth.”

“Yes.” James smiled whimsically. “The other boys in the group started shunning him to prove a point. What did he do? He formed his group, and it soon became even more popular than the group he had belonged to.

That went on for several months, and when they discovered that Marcel would not bend to their will, they had to give in. Your husband, my dear, has a stubborn streak a mile wide.”

“And a good heart.” Nikki mused.

“He accused me of pitting you two against each other and favoring you.”

Her tapered eyebrows lifted. “And it is up to you to disabuse him of that idea. Your son is a brilliant idea, and as much as I know my abilities, I recognize his value. He is a whiz at what he does.”

“I am aware.” James” eyes twinkled as he stared at her. “Is there any chance that I will be looking forward to another grandchild soon?”

“You will just have to wait and see.” Rising gracefully, she came towards him and kissed his cheek. “Thanks for everything.”

“You are completely welcome, and I feel that I should be the one thanking you.”

*****

“Can this wait?” Marcel was already stuffing things into his briefcase and watching the time. His legal secretary had made the reservation at one of Kane’s restaurants, and they were going there straight from work.

“I am afraid not.”

“What is it?” he asked, looking up as his brother entered his office and closed the doors behind him.

“The good doctor put one over on us,” Matthew told him grimly.

Snapping the case shut, Marcel gave Matthew his full attention. “What the hell does that mean?”

“The man stuck a gun in his mouth and ended his life.”

“What?” Lowering himself slowly into the chair, he stared at his brother.

“That’s not even the worst of it.”

“There is more?”

“Would you Mind if I pour myself a drink?” Without waiting for his approval, Matthew strode to the cabinet and selected an aged bottle of scotch.

“Matthew?”

“He left a very damaging letter with his attorney.”

“Saying what exactly?”

“All those allegations he made in the meeting put in words on papers, not only to his attorney but to the press as well.”

“The goddamned press? How damaging is this letter?”

Taking his drink over to the comfortable sofa, Matthew folded his frame on it and stretched his legs out. “Incendiary. He implicated several of the doctors as well as several members of the board.”

“Mom has a seat on the board.”

“Precisely.” Matthew rejoined grimly.

“There is no way to stop this?”

“He already sent a copy to the press. He is claiming that it’s his way of clearing his conscience.”

“Goddamned moron.” Reaching for the phone, he was about to call his wife when he saw her coming towards his office.

“Matthew.” Giving her brother-in-law a warm smile, she turned to her husband. “What’s wrong?”

He was starting to realize and loved that about her. She did not ask unnecessary questions.

“I will let Matthew fill you in. I have some calls to make,”

*****

“Sorry about dinner.” Marcel looked up as his wife came toward him with some cartons.

“You sent out for Chinese.”

“I figured since we are pulling an all-nighter, we might as well have something we both enjoy.”

“Please tell me there is Beijing roasted duck.”

“And Kung Pao chicken.” Putting the cartons on the table before the sofa, she handed him the chopsticks. “What’s the progress?”

“We have managed to kill the story from making the morning edition of the papers.” He glanced up as she came to sit next to him. The scent of her perfume was tantalizing his senses, and he cursed that he would have to finish this before even thinking of going home.

“We have a source in the papers. But the good doctor’s suicide is going to blow up in a scandal all on its own. My source told me he had been making noises everywhere.” Pushing aside the papers strewn all over the space beside him, he reached for the carton. “You could go home.”

“Are you trying to get rid of me?” She asked mildly, folding her legs beneath her as she started eating. “I need your particular skill.”

“Which one? I have so many.” She told him loftily.

Grinning at her, he leaned over and captured the chicken she had just put in her mouth.

“Hmm. Delicious.”

“If you are going to start stealing my food, you will have to pay up.”

“I have cash.” He was nibbling at her full bottom lip.

“I don’t want cash.” She put aside the food and cupped his face between her hands.

“What can I offer?”

“Oh, I think I already see what I want.” Climbing on top of him, she snakes down against his already surging erection.

“We are in full view of anyone-”

“The staff already left.” Pulling his tie off, she started to unbutton his shirt.

“The cleaning crew-”

“Came and left. It’s late.” She was pushing the shirt off his shoulders.

“The security-”

“Would not dare come up without alerting you; frankly, I don’t care.”

“Mrs. Hadley, you are being very naughty,” he whispered against her throat.

“Why not take it up a notch?” Reaching between them, she unzipped his pants and cupped his hot, swollen flesh, causing him to hiss out a breath. Hiking up her dress, he thanked the good Lord that she had taken off her stockings and her panties.

“You thought ahead.”

“That’s why I am such a good lawyer.” She whispered against his mouth as she sank on him.