Page 67 of Trials of a One Night Stand
I glance at the front door. Jayne hasn’t said that she needs me, but I’m the baby’s father. I know what’s best for them and will take such good care of them.
Nate: If either of you need me, just let me know. Doesn’t matter the time, I’ll be right there.
Zelda: Thanks. Love ya lots!
Nate: Love you too.
I tuck my phone into my pocket, making a mental note to add another bodyguard to Zelda’s detail. Jack is younger and strong, and he’d do anything to protect her, but he’s a science journalist, not a trained professional. At least Jayne is safe. I glance at the house, dark and silent except for the front porch light and the motion lights on the driveway.
But something nags at me.
Someone wants something from Zelda or Jack. Given what happened with Nigel Carrington, either one of them could be the target, especially if the thief is someone hired by Sugar Valley or Jayne’s firm to look for information—or even the original formula that eventually became Orchid. Tomorrow, their chief scientist testifies. I hope we can put the lawsuit to rest after that.
If the break-in tonight is due to the case, I hope Jayne isn’t involved. She acts like a straight shooter, but she was quick to accuse me of spying tonight. Was that because she felt guilty for doing that to Zentello?
I don’t want to believe that. I can’t, which means I need this stupid case to end before it drives Jayne and me so far apart we’ll never be able to come back together.
Jayne
I’m wet from my shower when my phone rings. My heart leaps, thinking it might be Nate. Unfortunately, it’s my boss. I focus on sounding cheerful, not annoyed. “Good morning, Jason. You’re up early this morning.”
“Why were you with Nate Lowe?”
Jason’s question renders me speechless. I wonder which time he’s referring to since I’ve spent a lot of time with Nate lately, including last night. I gulp and decide to play dumb. “What are you talking about?”
“You were seen with Nate outside the courthouse.”
Nope. “Seen how? If we walked in or out at the same time, I don’t see how I can be blamed for that.”
“The media was there in full force.”
The press has been relentless when I enter and leave the trial, but it’s not exactly a mob like I thought it might be. I’ve let Oliver keep up with the news coverage and update me as needed. I just don’t have time for another distraction. “I’ve been ignoring them as best I can.”
“Still, you were seen walking out of the courthouse, and he was next to you.”
“I didn’t know he was next to me.” Honestly, I thought he was behind me.
“That might be the case, but you’ve been with this firm long enough to understand the danger of fraternizing with the opposition,” Jason says. “There must be a clear divide, Jayne. If the client thinks that the lines between you and the opposition are blurred, it doesn’t look good. They’re likely to fire your ass.”
“Yes, Jason, I know.” I put him on speakerphone so I can dry off and get dressed or I’ll be late. I slept in a little. Nate was right about me needing more sleep last night, especially with our star witness on the stand this morning. “But I shouldn’t be blamed for Nate Lowe getting too close to me on the sidewalk.”
“You can and will be blamed,” Jason says in a tone I’ve never heard him use. “You need to do everything right with this case. You need to fucking annihilate Zentello. You can’t lose.”
Or else is implied.
The threat is clear enough—if I lose the case, I’ll be fired. “I won’t.” I manage to keep my voice steady. “I’m excellent at my job, you know that. You also know I’ll do whatever I can to win this case.”
I’ve said those words before, but this time, they feel wrong coming off my tongue. I’m beginning to suspect Nate is right about Sugar Valley Drugs, and my client is using the case to get a huge settlement so they can take over Zentello.
I have more research to do before I say anything, but the corporate structure above Sugar Valley Drugs is sketchy as hell. I’m assuming not even Jason or the other partners are aware, or they wouldn’t have taken the company on as a client. At least I hope that’s the case.
Still, I feel stuck.
If I do my job, I might hurt Nate, his company, and all the Zentello employees. If I don’t, my career at this firm is over. It wouldn’t be so bad if I only had myself to worry about, but I need the medical insurance for the pregnancy. Granted, I could ask Nate to pay, but I really don’t want him to be forced into doing that because I’m jobless.
I cringe. Being pregnant is hard enough to come to terms with. I don’t want to be unemployed too. That would be too much of my teenage nightmare coming true.
“Today is big for Sugar Valley. I can’t have you looking like a deer in the headlights again.” Jason couldn’t sound any more condescending if he tried.
