Playing in Secret(20)

"She doesn't need a job."

"Oh, because she's married to a Corrigan, right?"

"No. She was a Griffin first. Well, actually her mother was a Griffin,  and her father had even more money than they do. When her parents died,  it all went to her."

"Wow. I guess I might still work if I was rich. It'd be boring to just  sit around. I still don't get why she's a secretary," she says as we get  off of the elevator.

"Someone who's related to a Society mentor has to fill that job, and  she's more than just a secretary. She holds a lot of responsibility for  keeping the balance between our public image, and our private reality.  We all consider her to be at least our equal."

"I didn't mean to sound like I thought she wasn't important. My dad says every job is important."

"Your dad is right. Here we are," I tell her, stopping outside of Matt's office. "Are you ready to plead your case?"

"No."

"Great, let's go on in."

"I said no. We can just forget this."

"Forget what?" Matt asks, walking up behind us in the hall.

"Jeanne would like to ask you for a favor."

"You put my friends-and my wife-in danger, and you want a favor from me?"

"I thought you and Alex said he was a softy."

"Seriously, Aud? I was Special Forces, and you're telling people I'm soft?"

"Calm down, Commando. I only told her that so she wouldn't be intimidated by you."

"What's the favor, kid?"

She bites her lip, but when I nudge her and nod, she squares her  shoulders and looks him in the eye. "I would like to be tutored here. In  one of the rooms off the cafeteria."

"You want to turn one of my employee rooms into a classroom?"

"I wouldn't change anything, or move anything. We'll just bring books and stuff in, and then take them out when we leave."

"What are you going to trade me for the rent?"

"My dad will pay you."

"No. I don't need money, and you're the one asking me, not your dad."

"I only have computer skills, and I'm not allowed to use any technology right now."

"I have Ainsley and her team for anything technological. Do you know how to clean?"

She scrunches up her nose. "Yes."

"Good. You'll help with clean-up after the lunch rush in the cafeteria."

"Don't you have people to do that?"

"Yes. Everyone who works in this building. We all take at least one shift per month."

"You clean up the cafeteria?"

"I do. I'm not better than anyone in this building. From the small  amount of time I spent with your dad, I'm pretty sure he has the same  attitude. Which leads me to believe that your attitude has been  influenced by your mother. It won't fly here, and this is going to be  your only warning."

"You're right about my dad, and I won't be a problem. I promise. I'll clean every day, and treat everyone with respect."

"Good. You don't need to take yourself out of the room every night. The  rooms are never all being used at once. You can set yours up however you  want, and keep it that way."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Just remember to always use your super brain for good from now on."

"We have to ask her dad, and then if he says yes, I'll help her get settled tomorrow."

"He'll say yes," Matt says with a smirk.

"How do you know?" Jeanne asks him.

"He won't want to say no to you, and that word will never come out of his mouth for Audrey."         

     



 

I roll my eyes and hug him. Jeanne formally shakes his hand, which  amuses him to no end, and then we say our goodbyes. Once we're in the  car, I let her pick the music, and we head home. Or at least we try to.

About a mile from the building, the same cars are behind, and next to  us. Vegas is a city of traffic, so they could just be people going the  same way we are. Could be, but they aren't. For one thing, they're  keeping pace with me, speeding up or slowing down when I do. And then  there's their tinted windows, which are darker than normal. I activate  my distress signal, and keep driving.

"We're being followed, Jeanne. I've already sent out my distress signal,  so my friends will be on their way. If we are forced to pull over, I  need you to do exactly as I say."

"I didn't do this. I swear."

"I believe you. Right now we don't know if they're after me or you. Just listen to me, okay?"

"Okay."

The car on my left suddenly swerves towards me, forcing me to the right,  and down a less busy street. The other cars surround us, and I tell  Jeanne to hold on as I try to crash through one. It doesn't budge,  letting me know that they're probably all reinforced. I can't try them  all without completely destroying my car, and leaving us at their mercy.  At least my comm unit and camera came online when I sent out my call  for help.

"Jake and Isa are almost there, Aud. Matt's coming from the office, too.  Jade and Nate were out to dinner a couple miles away, so they'll be  there soon. Everyone else is further out, but we're all coming. Just  hang tight."

"Working on it, Ainsley."

"They have guns, Audrey," Jeanne says.

"I see them. The car has bullet proof glass."

It holds as the men surround us and empty their clips. I relay that  there are twelve of them, and try to keep calm. Isa, Jake, and Matt  should be here within minutes. My calm disappears when one of them takes  a rocket launcher out of his car. The glass can probably withstand it,  but I can't risk Jeanne-or my baby. We're vulnerable outside of the car,  but it could turn into a deathtrap if we stay inside.

"Jeanne, we're going to have to get out of this car."

"No shit."

"I need you to be next to me, so climb onto the center console and get  ready to exit right after me from the driver's side, okay?"

"Are you going to fight them all?" she asks, her eyes going wide.

"I'm going to try and not fight any of them. I just need to bide us some  time until my friends get here," I tell her, holding up my hands to  show the rocket launcher dude that I'm surrendering. Or pretending to,  at least.

"Why? You kick ass."

I sigh, and then tell her the truth. "Your dad should be the first one to know, but I found out today that I'm pregnant."

"Seriously. You and my dad are having a baby? That's gross, but cool, too."

"I'm going to do everything I can to protect you, Jeanne. If they attack, I will fight. But I won't initiate anything."

"I get it. Are we getting out now? He looks impatient."

"Yes. Just stay behind me."

I open the door and step out slowly. Jeanne gets out behind me, and I position myself fully in front of her. "What do you want?"

"The girl. She's coming with us."

"You can't have her."

"There are twelve of us and one of you."

"I know, it's really unfair to you isn't it?"

"Lady, we can do this easy, or we can take you down hard."

"It's not going to be easy." Where are my friends?

"We're not going to be easy on you once we each take a turn. We might go easy if you let us have her."

"Not a chance in Hell. Of either of those things happening."

"Take them both," he says; the men start to move towards us.

I prepare to fight, but Jeanne has other ideas. "Take me," she says  running in front of me. I grab for her, but she pulls away, and looks me  in the eye. "I'll go with you as long as you don't hurt her. Please  don't hurt her."

"Jeanne, no."

"It's your lucky day, lady. Our boss is listening in, and he says we can't touch you. Take the girl."

"No," I say moving towards them, even if Jeanne doesn't want me to. I  can't let them take her, even if she's doing it to protect my baby. I  want this baby, but I can't let them take her in order to protect it.  Jeanne has to come first right now.

"Yes," the man says, raising a gun at me as I raise mine at him.         

     



 

"You're not taking her as long as I'm standing."

I hear the cars screech to a stop behind me, and I know that my friends  are here. The men around me drop like flies as they're taken down before  they can even get their guns ready. Then it's just me, Jeanne, and the  guy standing in front of me with the gun. I see his eyes go back and  forth as Matt, Isa, and Jake flank us. He pushes Jeanne towards us and  runs for the nearest car. Matt is on him before he gets the door open,  and there's not much fight as he knocks the bastard out in seconds.

"Maybe you should've been in the ring with Nate," I tell him with a smirk.

"Nah. He can have the ring, and I'll take the streets."

"The streets belong to Aiden," Isa reminds him.

"And I have the Corrigan building," Jake says.

"Fine. I'll just stick to the boardroom, and make the money that pays all of your salaries."

"Works for me. And thanks for riding to our rescue. All of you."

"Looks like we almost didn't make it," Isa says.