Page 466 of Seasons of Love
He put his hand in his jacket and took out a photo, placing it on the coffee table.
The photo had been taken days ago when Griff and Jake had their lunch date. They were looking at each other and smiling.
“I don’t understand, John. I know Jake is friends with Mal and Griff, so I’m failing to see an issue here.”
“Maybe this might clarify things a little better.” John placed another photo on the table, and in that one, Jake and Griff were kissing.
It was clear that it wasn’t just a kiss. Griff’s hand was cradling Jake’s face lovingly.
“What is this?” Frank asked.
“That…is the kind of example your management team sets for the rest of your business.”
“Jacob, what is this? Are you having an affair with Griff?”
Jake had gone as white as a sheet. I had to resist my instinct to get up and go to him, especially when Griff had stiffened up next to me.
“Maybe this one will give you the full picture. Pardon the pun,” John said.
The next photo he laid out on the table was of Jake and me. We were in the conference room. Jake sat on my lap, and he was looking at me and smiling. That was just before he’d said he thought he saw something out in the office.
Someone had been there and taken a photo of us. Undoubtedly the same person who took the other photo.
Frank’s brows were furrowed as he stared at Jake as if he were seeing him for the first time.
I wanted to say something to clarify that neither Griff nor I were cheating on each other with Jake. But how was telling Frank we were all in a relationship any better?
“Who took these photos?” Frank asked.
John straightened up. “Well, I…um…I always knew Jacob was a smart boy, and he loves the resorts as much as you do. It’s a shame that he’s fallen prey to a predator, a climber that took advantage of him not after joining your team, but all the way back when Mallory was at the resort for his job interview.”
“Jacob, is this true?”
“Yes, Uncle Frank. I met Mal and Griff when I was working before my last college term. I didn’t know who they were or what they were doing at the resort. I thought they were regular guests.”
“Since when do you make it a habit of engaging in…whatever you did, with guests?”
Jake looked down at the floor. His hands were in his lap.
“For goodness’ sake,” I said. “Jake is an adult. Yes, we met months ago. Neither of us knew who each other was. We didn’t speak or meet again until I started my job. I don’t understand how any of this is relevant to the contract between Melville Construction and Silver Resorts.”
“How do you explain those photos, Mal?” Frank asked.
“Frank, I would prefer to discuss those in private, not in front of someone who I not only don’t know, but who also has no business in my or my husband’s personal life.”
“Fair enough,” Frank said. “John, you still haven’t answered my question. Who took the photos?”
“My stepson.”
“Brian?”
Wait. Brian is John’s stepson?
Jake looked at John in shock and then at me.
“It’s all making sense now,” I said. “I’m going to take a guess you didn’t know Brian was John’s stepson, did you, Jake?”
“No, of course not. He’s much older than me, and I finished school on the mainland. Besides, I don’t know everyone on the island.”
