13. Justine

Iwalked into the office after bitching Justice into submission. "Yes, sir?"

"Ooh, no, not here. Don't do that, don't call me sir here."

"Ooookay!"

‘Spank me, Daddy.'

Hush!

"Oh, yes, um, I'm sorry, Mr…."

"Marcus, you can call me Marcus when it's just us two. You can call me whatever you like to the others here."

"Okay, Marcus, was there something you wanted?"

"Yes, I made reservations for five at the Boomboz for six."

"Okay! Wait, isn't that a kid's restaurant?"

"It is, yes. Don't worry, you and Monique are going with the girls. It'll give them a chance to get out of the house and have some fun before their world gets turned upside down."

‘Now see this shit right here, this is the shit that gon have you popping out one two three four ten-eleven of his lil big head children.

Not now, Justice, I'm at work.

"Baby, why are you gritting your teeth and talking out the side of your mouth?"

‘JUSTINE! Bitch what the actual fuck are you doing? Why you standing in front our daddy looking like you got a mild case of Tourette's? I'll choke you out right here, right fucking here. In this bitch looking like Rain Man.'

I've never been so mortified in my life.

‘Who you about to blame for this shit? What you should be focusing on is how you're supposed to be treated. He made reservations for your badass heathen kids to go eat, and he ain't even their dad.'

‘Take notes for the next one because I know you gon fuck this up. You can't handle all that, man. But I swear on my mama, if you break up before you get that dick, I will make your life a living hell.'

I just rolled my eyes and went back to my desk. It seemed as soon as I sat down, the doors opened, and his father walked in and tried walking by me. "Excuse me, sir."

"Don't get in my way, little girl."

"I'm sorry, but you're not allowed to go in without being announced."

I got up and stood in his way. He leaned into my face so I could see the little specks in his pupils. I don't know what his intent was when he smiled sinisterly at me, but before he could do whatever it was, he was being pushed back into the wall, and Marcus was standing between the two of us.

"Don't you ever fucking dare."

‘Nine-one-one man down a bitch in distress.'

Justice? I think Justice passed out.

* * *

‘No-no-no-no,where has he been all my life?' Justice was laid out on the psychiatrist"s couch, having a fit.

‘I know she's gon fuck it up. I just know it.'

You hush; I'm not going to mess up anything.

After Marcus got between me and his father the other man tried talking to him. "You can't do this to me. You can't just cut me out of my family's business. I've worked my ass off here for years…. When did you and the old man plan this, huh? Is this part of your revenge for what happened to your mother? It happened; get over it, grow up."

Whoa! Marcus' sinister smile was way scarier than his Dad's. He leaned over and said something in his Dad's ear that had him turning white, and before he could say or do anything more, a door that I hadn't noticed opened, and Carl walked out.

"Mr. Devereaux." He held out his hand, indicated the elevator doors, and stared at the older man until he turned and left.

"You, okay?" Marcus came to check me over. "Did he hit you?" Why would he ask that?

"No, no, he didn't; he just got in my face a little."

"You're not shaken or anything? That's my girl." He kissed the top of my head and started to walk back into his office. Carl, the woman below this floor, fire her."

"Yes, sir."

"What's going on?"

"He wasn't supposed to get past the secretary beneath you. No one is without your authorization." I can read between the lines. He was letting me know that there was no way for Paul or Melanie to get to me.

* * *

PAUL

* * *

"How do they know each other?"

"I don't know. This doesn't make any sense. Justine's field is medicine; she isn't a businesswoman. Why would she take the job? And where the hell are my kids?"

"Forget about your damn kids; this is serious. We could both lose our jobs."

"What? Why? There's no morality clause that keeps us from being together at the company. I checked."

"No, but Marcus IV hates cheaters."

"What the hell are you talking about? Isn't he your brother? So what if we're seeing each other? My divorce will be final soon anyway."

"You promise?"

"Yes, I told you, I was looking for a way, but since she pulled that stunt, I no longer have to. Everyone saw how she acted; no judge in the world would give her custody. My lawyer is just trying to figure out how to get out of alimony, and then it's a go."

"Great, that's awesome. I was growing tired of sneaking around."

"Yeah, me too." This should be perfect. Justine had given me the perfect excuse to file for divorce, and yet, I find myself hesitating. Not because I don't love Melanie and want to be with her, but because something feels a little off.

I'd spent the weekend celebrating the fact that my ex-wife had shot herself in the foot. I'd thought of her as my ex for a while now; I just never got around to telling her that. Why would I? She was still the hottest pussy I've ever had, and that was including Melanie's.

I had a whole year of running between the two women. One thought I was in the middle of a divorce, and the other had no clue that I was seeing someone else behind her back. I had the best of both worlds there for a while, but it's like they say: all good things must come to an end.

The strange thing, though, is that is the Justine I knew and loved, the Justine I married. I loved that fire of hers that would make her fly off the handle and square up with anyone.

Not the suburban housewife with the three brats that were always vying for her attention. That night was the first time in years that I had seen that fiery passion on full display, and it brought back so many memories.

I'd gone by the house with the kids after the babysitter left the hotel that night but she wasn't back yet. I'd had no choice but to take them to my mom's place. I kept calling and driving by, but there was no answer, and she hadn't come home.

I ended up going back to Melanie's place because she needed comforting after the embarrassment of that night, and besides, I was already caught, so what was the point of going home to an empty house?

I called every chance I got, but there was no answer, and her cards hadn't been used anywhere. For a moment, I thought she had done the unthinkable, and that shook me up a little, but there were no reports on the news about any accidents or suicides, so I had no idea where she was.

After a bender on Saturday night, I spent the rest of the weekend high on booze and drugs. It felt so free, so liberating not to have to worry about a wife and kids when I could be free and unencumbered.

I'd planned on asking for a divorce at some point when I got around to it, but only when things were in my favor. My secretary called through just then, "Mr. Tanner, Mr. Devereaux would like to see you in ten minutes."

The bottom fell out, and I looked at Melanie in an almost panic. "In his office?"

"No, sir, the conference room." I left my office on shaky legs and headed upstairs in the elevator with thoughts of termination running through my head. What the hell am I gonna do if I get fired? How am I supposed to live? My car. I only just bought my new car.

By the time I walked into the conference room, my underarms were wet. I was relieved to see that my ex-wife was not there, though.

"Have a seat." I sat down on the chair indicated and straightened my tie.

I'd heard about this guy over the years. Some hotshot diplomat that no one really knew what he did but was always being lauded and written up for his work in obscure, unknown places. Nobody could've known that he would be taking over since his father was still alive and kicking.

That's one of the reasons, one which I only acquired today, that I wasn't so sure about the divorce. I was always under the assumption that Melanie's dad would be inheriting the company, but her brother is just as good, I guess.

"I've been looking over your work history with the company. Very impressive." The knot that had started to form in my gut started to untie itself a little.

"Let's not beat around the bush; I'm promoting you to president, effective immediately."

It took me a second to realize what he'd just said. And when I did, I couldn't contain the smile that broke out across my face. I didn't let the fact that he ignored my hand when I held it out to shake his sour my mood, nor the fact that he dismissed me so abruptly afterward. The guy lived in the jungles of Africa for years; no doubt he had forgotten social decorum.

I couldn't wait to tell Melanie the good news, and here she thought we were going to be fired. I wore a shit-eating grin all the way back to my office.