Playing in Secret(19)

"Come on Jeanne, let's go."

"I don't want to go with you."

"I can't leave you here with them."

"Jeanne is perfectly safe. No one here would hurt her," I say, and move to put my hands on her shoulders.

"Whatever. Just leave me alone."

She practically runs into the elevator Ainsley has waiting for her as  Jeanne's shoulders shake beneath my hands. I turn her towards me and hug  her tight as she sobs into my chest. "I'm sorry, Jeanne."

"Why? Because my Mom's a bitch? You've known that for years."

"Yes, but I'd hoped she wouldn't be that way with you."

"I'm basically you, just younger. Too nerdy for her."

"Well, look at Audrey now. Do you know how many women would love to be her?" Faith asks.

"Let's get back to work ladies. Let us know if you need anything, Aud," Reina says.

"I'll email you the pic. I figured you might want a copy, so I saved it on my phone," Ainsley tells me.

"Thanks," I tell her with a smile.

"I'm going to call all of my designer friends, as well as Anna Wintour,  and get Misha fired. No one messes with you on my watch, Aud."

"You don't have to do that, Stella."

"Can you do that? Really?" Jeanne asks.

"I can, but I won't if it upsets you."

"No. I mean, I love my mom, but she needs to be punished. I still don't  get to use any electronics because of what I did, but now you know my  mom was in on it, too."

"It sounds like she was more the mastermind of it all. You know you need to tell your dad, right?" I ask.

"It was her idea. I planned on telling him today when she left. I should  have said something sooner, but she convinced me we'd be a happy  family. Then she moved in and I realized she just wanted my dad and her  career, not me. It's never about me."

"Maybe not with her, but your dad will always put you first."

"So did you."

"That wasn't entirely unselfish on my part."

"Huh?"

"I'll explain after you call your dad. You can use the phone in my office."

"I could use your cell phone."

"I think you're a great kid, but I don't entirely trust you. I'm sorry  to say it, but that's the way it is. My cell phone has some sensitive  information on it."

"I understand," she says with a sigh. "Doesn't your office have sensitive information?"

"The one in my lab does," I tell her with a smile, "but we're going into  my public office. The one people come to for PR stuff regarding the  Corrigan & Co. Foundation."

"Oh," she tells me, looking disappointed.

"I'll take you to my lab. One day, not today, but maybe soon."

"Okay. I promise you can trust me."

I just smile at her. I know she's sorry for what she did, but she put  all of us in danger with her little stunts. Misha may have been pulling  the strings, but Jeanne is old enough to know better. She's learning her  lesson, but I can't trust our secrets with her yet. My friends and I  rely on each other for protection, and I won't betray their trust in me.



Blake

"Looking great everyone, why don't you take a quick break," I tell the students as they finish with the current scene.

My phone has just lit up with a call from the Corrigan & Company Foundation, and I need to answer it. "Dree?"

"No, Dad, it's me."

"Oh hey, baby. Are you visiting Audrey?"

"Kind of."

"Who drove you there?" I ask, thinking that should've been my first  question once my lust-addled brain realized I wasn't talking to Audrey.

"Mom."

Fuck. There is no way any scenario involving Misha and the Foundation is  going to turn out to be a good situation. I try to sound calm as I ask  my next question. "Why was your mother there?"         

     



 

"She was trying to blackmail Reina into hiring her by using a picture of you and Audrey when you were about to kiss last night."

Motherfucking bitch. "Is Audrey okay?"

"Oh yeah. Ainsley pulled the picture from Mom's phone and somehow also  deleted it from her email and the guy who took the picture's email and  computer, too. I need her to teach me that."

"No you don't. Are you sure Audrey's okay?"

"Yes, but … um … there's something else I need to tell you."

What now? I mean, come on. "I'm listening."

"I wanted to tell you when we first got here, but you told me you didn't want to talk about Mom, and then I chickened out."

"What is it, Jeanne?"

"Mom's the one who paid for the kidnappers. It was her money, not yours that I used."

I close my eyes and mentally count to ten before I speak again. "Your  mother set this whole thing up? The kidnapping attempts, and moving back  in?"

"Yes. She promised me it'd be different this time. She said she loved me, and missed you. I thought she meant it. I'm sorry."

"Oh, baby. I'm sorry, too. She knows just what to say in order to get what she wants from most people. I wish you'd come to me."

I hear her start to cry, and then Audrey's on the phone. "Don't punish  her any more, okay? She knows she messed up, but she did it because she  loves you and Misha."

"I know. I'm not going to do anything to her. Misha, on the other hand, needs to pay."

"Stella's already calling the designers she knows, and the fashion editors. Misha won't get any work."

"Damn. I'm glad I'm not on your bad side. I'm not, am I?"

"At the moment, no."

"Okay, good." I look around and make sure no kids are near me for this  next part. "I would like to be naughty, though. Think you'd like to come  by for dinner and a sleepover?"

"I think I can fit you into my schedule. I need to talk to you about something anyway."

"Good or bad?"

"I think it's good."

"Then I can't wait."

"Do you want to pick up Jeanne, or should I just bring her with me?"

"If you could bring her, that would be great. I've still got a couple hours of work here."

"Sure. I have a little more work to get done here, too."

"You should have her help you. Not with anything electronic, of course.  But she can do whatever grunt work you can find for her."

"I think she's had a hard enough day. I'll take her to the cafeteria for  a snack, and then she can hang out with Alex. She might have something  she needs help with."

"I would like it if she did. Jeanne needs to be useful. It'll be good  for her. And thank you for taking care of her. I know you'll always look  out for my child."

"I will."

I have an extra spring in my step as I head back onto the stage. "Let's take on the next scene everyone."





Chapter 14


Audrey

"Ready to go, kiddo?" I ask Jeanne as I walk into the lobby where she's been helping Alex.

"Yeah. I just have one more envelope to stuff."

"She's been a big help today, Aud," Alex tells me.

"It was kind of boring, but fun, too."

"I'm guessing that the fun part was when Alex let you play some games on her e-reader."

"Shit," Alex says.

"It's fine. You're not her parent, and that's the story we're sticking to if Blake finds out."

"Agreed."

"I won't tell," Jeanne says, handing her finished work to Alex.

"No worries."

"Can I come back tomorrow?"

"Don't you have tutoring?"

"Yeah, but I'd rather be here. There are those big empty rooms off the  cafeteria. Couldn't I have lessons in there with my tutors?"

"Well, you'd have to get permission from Matt since he runs this place, and then you'd have to ask your dad."

"I thought Reina was in charge."

"Of the Foundation, and the Society, yes. Matt is in charge of Corrigan & Co., the business, though."

"He came and helped me when he should've been running his company. He probably hates me."

"Nah. My brother-in-law may act tough, but he's a softy," Alex tells her.

"You're married to Matt's brother?"

"I am."

"Why are you a secretary?"

"Because I love it here, and I'm not qualified to be a Society Girl, even if there was an opening."         

     



 

"Don't sell yourself short, Alex."

"I'm not. Just being honest."

"She's a lot more than a secretary to us. We'd fall apart without her. I  mean, seriously, have you ever tried to work that phone system? It's a  beast."

"I love how you all go out and fight the baddest of the bad guys, yet are scared of my phones."

"We all have our weaknesses," I tell her with a shrug. She laughs and waves goodbye as she answers a call.

"Can we go see Matt now? Or maybe he's too busy."

"We can go up to his floor, and check. He's always busy, but not as much  as you'd imagine. He hires good people, and delegates whatever he can.  He likes to make sure they all have a chance to prove themselves."

"I still don't understand why Alex would work as a secretary. Couldn't Matt give her a better job if she needed one?"