Chapter Sixty Five
Jim was glad Marge’s niece was in town this week. He was already getting buried in paperwork, Even with his young cousin Mabon, was trying to fill in on the weekends. The temps weren’t working out, they were too intimidated by him. Mabon was managing, but she was also sixteen years old, and Jim needed someone with more experience who wasn’t in school during the week.
Thankfully Jill had stopped calling. He had tried to make it clear to her that they were done, and now he worried that she wasn’t going to let it go. She had quit under the impression that they would now be together. He had gone to her apartment one night to ask her to stop calling and let him be, but instead, they ended up having sex on the sofa. Twice. He had blocked her number from calling the house, or school or his cell, but he couldn’t get a restraining order without it getting back to his father, and possibly Hallie. Hell, Jill could go to Hallie on her own, if she really wanted. He had offered Jill money but she didn’t want it. She just wanted him.
Abruptly, the calls had stopped. Jim didn’t dwell on it, he was just relieved she had left him alone. He chalked it up to someone new had entered her life and given her a new object of focus.
“Jim, Bernadean Morgenstern is here to see you,” Mabon poked her head around the door. With a day off from school, she was happy to help out. She also enjoyed flirting with some of the older boys. The look on her face made it clear what she thought of the woman’s name. “Interview?”
“Thank you, Mabon, please show her in.”
Mabon did so, followed by a tall, solidly built woman in ashapeless navy suit with white pinstripes. Dark hair was pulled back severely into a tight bun. She wore rectangular glasses that Jim didn’t think suited her but he knew they were a popular style these days. Her suit didn’t seem to quite fit her, and it took Jim a minute to realize she wasn’t comfortable in it. Her face was fairly plain, he thought, oval shaped, dark eyes behind the somewhat ugly glasses. She didn’t wear makeup, and her hairstyle seemed severe. It felt like…she was dressing the part but not really into it. She really didn’t seem the type to be an administrative assistant, he realized.
“Miss Morgernstern, pleasure to meet you,” he stood to shake her hand. Firm shake, that was good, he thought. She was around six feet, he guessed, and wearing low heels. In fact, while he was no fashion maven, her shoes struck him as ‘sensible’. No sexy heels here.
She smiled politely. “You can call me Bernie, please.”
“Will do. Can I get you something to drink? Coffee, water, soda?”
“No, thank you,” she took a chair opposite his desk.
She was graceful, Jim thought. Not dancer graceful, but…jungle cat graceful. Lethal graceful, he thought, remembering her martial arts background and bodyguard qualifications.
He launched into his speech about the school, its background, its staff, its students, and his expectations, both for the school in general and his employees. He could practically see her cataloguing information mentally and she periodically asked questions.
“Now, you tell me a little about yourself,” he said.
She had grown up mostly in the south, earned her bachelor’s at Georgia Tech, her masters at the University of Georgia, both in Business Administration. Bernie was good with computers and liked things like spreadsheets, and matrices. She’d had a variety of jobs, from bartending and bouncer to construction worker and mountain climbing instructor. She was certified in jujitsu and self defense.
“I’m puzzled, Bernie, as to why you would want this job, when business and management don’t seem to be what you really want to do,” he said. She actually had nice bone structure, he thought. There was a also faint resemblance to Marge. Maybe it was just the business-like attitude.
She blushed just a little.
She had nice skin too, he thought. Healthy, light tan, minimal makeup.
“I got the degrees for practicality, and job security. Some industries are very cyclical, and I didn’t want to get caught in a down cycle. At the same time, I love new challenges. So I’ve tried a few different things, but I’m beginning to realize that as I get a little older, it’s time to start a grown up job. When Aunt Marge told me about this, I thought I’d apply and see what happens.”
“Do you have any opposition to a background check? It’s non-negotiable.”
“I was arrested twice,” she said frankly. “Once at a protest in Atlanta, and the other was in college, when I was uh, pledging a sorority and we had to streak the football field.”
Jim laughed. “If that’s the worst of it, I think we’re okay. What was the protest for?”
“The shutting down of an abortion clinic. It made national news a few months ago. The day after the protest, it was blown up by pro-lifers. But my political views have no bearing on my job, I just wanted you to know it wasn’t for terrorism or violence or drugs.”
Jim nodded. She was a passionate woman, obviously. “And if you don’t get the position?” Jim asked.
“Skydiving instructor is next on the list,” she said promptly, earning him a laugh.
“Well, you’re definitely one of the most interesting candidates I’ve had surface,” he smiled. “Are you going to be in town long?”
“About a week,” she answered. “I’m staying with Aunt Marge.”
“Then I’ll be in touch, hopefully within a couple of days,” he replied. “But I’d say you are definitely in the running.”
Bernie smiled widely, and he idly wondered what she looked like without the glasses.
Keep your pants zipped, Frayne, he thought. The last thing he needed right now was another distraction. But she was by far his favorite candidate.
***
Mabon searched through the files on the computers. Jill had been efficient, she thought and it didn’t take long to find the offer letter, and the file that was an explanation of benefits. She emailed them to Jim.
“Just sent you an email, Jim,” Mabon walked into his office. “Letter and benefits. It’s a blank template so look it over and let me know if you want anything changed.”
“Thanks, Mabon.”
“You know,” she sat opposite him, “I always thought my name was pretty unique and has a neat history to it, but who on earth saddled her with that one?”
Jim chuckled. “Her parents I presume.”
Mabon shook her head. “That was mean of them.” The teen rose and returned to the desk.
Jim spent some time making changes to the letter, and emailed it back to Mabon, with Bernie’s resume attached for the address. Mart came by at lunch, and as Jim’s right hand, looked the letter over for approval.
“You think she’ll work out? Not everyone can be as efficient as Jill was,” Mart teased.
He had no idea what had transpired between Jim and his last secretary. Jim hoped.
“I sure hope so. Mabon does a good job, but I didn’t realize just how much of this stuff Jill was taking care of.”
Mart looked at his friend sharply. Jim felt his face flush.
“Not like that,” he muttered, hating himself for the lie. Mart was one of his best friends, but he couldn’t bring himself to admit out loud they he had had an affair with the woman who looked a lot like Mart’s sister.
He really wanted to get Bernie started and get the office back in shape. He hated dealing with paperwork.
***
Mabon emailed her the offer letter, after Jim made a phone call to let Bernie know she had the job if she was still interested.
The next morning she arrived promptly at eight, and they filled out the paperwork and discussed responsibilities. She was eager and excited, he realized, and that made him feel good.
She understood the need for discretion, and he explained about needing to leave early to pick up his kids some days. She took notes on a super-thin notebook computer, and seemed to understand the situation quickly.
Bernie spent the day with Mabon, learning where things were, and after lunch, Mabon walked her around the school, introducing her to staff.
Mabon had to chuckle when she saw the interest in her uncle Brian’s eyes. He was on campus today and welcomed the new staff member warmly.
An observant woman could see through severe hairstyles and ugly glasses, and Mabon was quite certain that “Please call me Bernie” was a whole more attractive than she let on. Her uncle Brian seem to realize it too.
***
Hallie lay awake, her brain racing. She had slipped up, ordered a glass of wine at lunch, in public. She had managed to not order another, but now, she wanted more. The longing. There were no bottles, she knew. She had dumped them all out in front of Jim. To her shame, he had known where most of her stashes were. He didn’t know about the ones under the seat of her car. But leaving the house in the middle of the night would raise all sorts of red flags to him.
He was cordial to her, but that was it. He was around too much, picking up the kids, making them dinner, helping with homework and tucking them into bed.
She didn’t like it. At all. There was a time she wanted him there, helping with the parenting duties. Now she just wanted him gone. Him and the kids, both. She wanted to be free again, free to have fun with Ben, and be her own person without the burden of wife and mother.
Sure, she hated this house, the woods and everything about it, but it had always been her territory. Now he was here all the time, his presence filling it, slowly earning his children’s affection back and stealing it from her.
And he had a new secretary, some Amazon of a plain woman in ugly glasses. That made Hallie feel a little better but she wanted to find that Jill woman. Her timing of leaving was too convenient. Maybe she needed to hire a PI. Find out where the little slut was and what it would take to say she had had an affair with Jim. That could be handy in the divorce proceedings.
Byron had stopped asking her for help with his homework. Even Valerra started asking Jim more questions about Daisy’s fashion company. Little Regan never left his side.
Bitterly, Hallie stood on the sidelines as she went ignored and neglected.
***
Jim was digging through the closet when he found it. The bottle. He stared at the offensive item for a long moment. He had been looking for a pair of hiking boots, clueless as to where he left them.
Shaking his head, he reached for the bottle and picked it up. Yep, it was hers, he recognized the brand. There was no dust. This was a new acquisition, but had been opened and a couple of shots worth were missing.
Standing up, he went to find her.
She was at the kitchen table, sketching. He knew Valerra was in her room, the boys outside.
He slammed the bottle down in front of her, and she flinched.
“When did you buy this?” he demanded.
She looked blank. “I haven’t bought anything in weeks.”
“Liar!” he hissed, leaning over her. “No dust, Hallie, this is new.”
“I told you, I don’t know.” Her dark eyes began to burn. “Where did you find it?”
“Back of the closet,” he snapped. “How much have you been nipping on the sly?”
“None!” she stood, fists clenched. “If I bought that, it was a while ago. And I didn’t hide any in the closet!”
“Seal’s broken, too,” he was shaking with fury. “How did you get this past me?”
“I didn’t! I don’t remember putting anything in there!” she shouted.
“Which is it, Hal? Which lie are you trying to sell today?” he demanded.
“I’m not lying!” she got in his face, not willing to back down. “I don’t remember hiding a bottle in the closet!”
He shook his head. “I can’t believe you, Hallie. I’m holding the evidence in front of you, and you’re still lying.”
Anger coursed through her and without thinking, Hallie slapped Jim as hard as she could. He stepped back in surprise, but didn’t strike back. The look in his eyes chilled her blood.
Jim smiled at her, and Hallie felt more fear in that moment than she ever had in her life.
“How long have you waited to do that, Hallie?” he asked. “Months? Years?”
“You bastard,” she whispered, feeling tears forming. She wouldn’t cry. She wouldn’t. Not in front of him.
She flinched when he reached for her, but it was to only touch her face gently.
“I think I might have loved you once,” he said softly. “But then I woke up and there you were, shackled to me.”
He left the kitchen as her tears finally spilled over. She had to get out of this place.
***
Hallie stood in Ben’s doorway, watching him shut the computer down. He reached for his coffee cup, unaware she was there. They were the last two in the building, she knew, and he wouldn’t like that. He didn’t want anything to be misconstrued. She usually left in the afternoon but today she had dawdled. Jim was picking up the kids and she was loathe to go home to them.
“Ben,” she said softly.
He turned, startled, but his hazel eyes lit up when he saw her.
“Hi, Hallie. You didn’t leave yet?”
She shook her head, pressing her lips together.
“What’s wrong, Hallie?” he rose.
“It’s Jim,” she whispered, tears shining in her eyes. The whole story came out of the last few days and Jim’s cruel words. He had barely acknowledged her since, and the children, if they noticed, were so happy to finally have their dad’s attention that they were always with him.
Ben sighed and drew her to him, stroking her hair. He knew he shouldn’t touch her, but he couldn’t help it, and it was getting harder to resist touching her. He hated seeing her this way. Being married to his cousin Frayne had just sucked the life out of the once vibrant girl. Hallie was a shell of what she used to be.
“It’ll be okay,” he murmured, trying not to think about her pressing up against him.
“I’m so tired of it Ben,” she whispered, “I want to leave, I don’t know why I can’t. I don’t mean to lead you on.”
“I know,” he sighed. “But I wish you’d make up your mind.”
“You’re the one I want,” she whispered, looking up at him. “I want to be with you, but if I try to leave, I’ll lose the kids.”
“Are you sure you want them?” he asked, resisting the urge to kiss her.
“No,” the tears spilled over from her black eyes, and before Ben knew it, he was kissing them away. Her arms snaked up around his neck, pulling his head down to hers.
“Hallie, no,” he groaned, trying to ignore the tightening in his groin.
“Ben, I need you, please don’t reject me too,” she whispered, sliding her hands over his chest to unbutton his shirt.
***
Jim stared at the photos. On his laptop the dvd played. Live and in living color, his wife banging his cousin. It had started when she came onto him, under the guise of needing comfort, and progressed to her kneeling in front of him. After that, Ben had lifted her onto the desk, it just grew worse from there. What was obvious was thier ecstasy as they ravaged each other with the eagerness of teenagers.
“Shut it off,” he muttered, looking away. The reckless abandonment they displayed let him know their affair was new. He had previously suspected it had started shortly after she went back to work for him.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Frayne,” the detective said quietly. Jim nodded. “I hate having to show you this, but it’s why you hired me.”
“Thank you. Just give me the bill,” he said quietly. The man placed a thin envelope on Jim’s desk and left, knowing he would receive full payment shortly.
Jim stared at the photos, stomach turning, head spinning. He had the proof he needed of her committing adultery. And he was a huge hypocrite. How many affairs had he had over the years? How many times had he committed adultery? If she had proof, she could leave him, and take him to the cleaners. Take his children. He couldn’t let that happen. But if he did this…she had no evidence to retaliate with, only suspicion. Hypocritical. Selfish. But they couldn’t go on this way anymore. He couldn’t take it. She wanted Ben, Ben obviously wanted her. Jim didn’t.
He’d be fair. Give her a good settlement. Visitation whenever she wanted it.
Heart dull, Jim picked up the phone and dialed a number he knew by heart.
“Dad? It’s Jim. I’ve got the proof.”
***
Hallie hoped Jim hadn’t noticed how twitchy she was. If he found out about Ben and what had happened the week before, dear God, he would likely kill Ben and she would lose everything. And the way he looked at her, made Hallie think he knew. Narrowed eyes, stiff jaw, green eyes dark with mirth.
Six days after she and Ben made love repeatedly in his office, she could still feel his hands and lips on her. It had felt so good to be wanted, to be loved by someone who had always loved her. Not someone who wanted her to be Trixie, or be like Trixie, but someone who loved her for being Hallie.
But since then, Ben had been jittery too, making sure they were never alone together in the office since. They hadn’t talked either, but his looks at her reassured her though, that they were okay. They just needed to keep things cool for a while.
She arrived home from work and felt her heart drop. Jim stood on the front porch surrounded by suitcases. Getting out of the car, she approached cautiously. Was he leaving? Was he taking the kids?
“Jim, what’s wrong?” she demanded. “What’s going on?”
“What’s going on,” he said coolly. “is that you’re moving out. Right now. I’ve packed all of your clothes and jewelry.”
Hallie felt her knees weakening. “What’s going on? Jim, what are you talking about?” she demanded.
“These are the separation papers, Hallie,” his voice was harsh. “With intent to file for divorce as soon as I can. It’s also a court order giving me full temporary custody of the children, and a removal of your person and belongings from my property.”
“What—you can’t do this Jim! They’re my children too! You can’t just separate from me without my signature! We haven’t talked about divorce in depth—”
“We don’t need to talk,” Jim snapped, flinging an envelope at her. It hit against her and fell to the ground, pictures spilling out. She didn’t bother to pick it up, just stared at it, horrified as she instantly knew what was inside from the top picture. “Yes, Hallie, your little sexfest with Riker the other day was caught on film—both video and print.”
Somewhere in the distance Hallie heard crashing as her chest constricted.
“I don’t care where you go,” Jim said tightly. “But you aren’t to come anywhere near the school, the house, or the kids schools for the next thirty days.”
“My children—”
“Will be told Mommy is sick and in rehab for your drinking,” he said harshly. “Which you need because I know you’re still drinking—I have proof of that too, and enough to show you’re a danger to our children. And I don’t give a damn what think. I have all the proof I need to bury your ass in court and not give you one red cent for whoring yourself around.”
“You son of a bitch,” she whispered, tears streaming down her face. “You son of a bitch!”
Jim caught her before she could claw his eyes out. “Don’t do this, Hal. You’re on camera right now.”
She froze. “What?”
“I’ve got cameras watching this place, and we’re being recorded. You attack me, it goes into the case.”
She gaped at him, hatred burning in her eyes.
“Take your stuff and go.” Jim ordered. “Now.”
She wrenched herself away from him.
“Your father had a hand in this, didn’t he?” she yelled. “Once again, Daddy steps in to save his precious son. I know you’ve cheated on me too, Jim Frayne, don’t you stand there and try to take the moral high road! I’ll find them, I’ll find the women you’ve been screwing and I’ll get them to swear to it! And then Big Bucks Wheeler won’t be able to pay them all off! I’ll find that little Trixie lookalike whore and get her to testify against you! You think I’m afraid you and his money?” she demanded.
“I don’t care what you think,” he answered.
“I want to say good bye to my children.”
“No. Helen is picking them up and will keep them tonight. And you’re not to go near Crabapple Farm either.”
Hallie felt the fury building in her. “My aunt is picking up my children? Is she going to raise them while I’m exiled or do you have some other whore waiting in the wings to do so? Someone waiting to move into my bed when I leave?”v
Jim tensed, struggling to leash his temper. “You need to leave, Hallie. Before I call the police and have you removed.”
“So you can humiliate me even more? Get it in the papers that I was forcibly removed from my own home? So you can use it against me in court?”
“Last warning, Hallie. All your crap is here. Makeup, jewelry, clothes.”
Hallie stared at him, loathing him with every inch of her being, vicious words flying through her head. No, she thought. Not with cameras watching, and probably recording.
“Fine,” she said icily. “I’ll leave. But this isn’t the end of it, Jim, I swear to you. This isn’t the end!”
Moments later she was gone, her SUV loaded with her suitcases. Jim watched her leave before he went inside. Shutting the front door behind him, he slid to the floor and leaned his head against his knees. The marriage was over. There was still a court battle to be had. But his father’s lawyers would handle that. He needed to protect the children.
Finally, after all these years, he would be free of her. So where was the feeling of relief?
***
Despite the fact she had only been working for him for a few days, Jim felt completely secure in leaving the school to Bernie for the several days he took off. Mart was in charge, with Bernie assisting him. He liked the fact that she exuded such a calm, capable demeanor. Nothing seemed to ruffle her. And he knew Brian had an interest in her, which made him smile. Brian could use a good woman in his life.
When the children arrived home from school he sat them down to explain Hallie would be gone for a while. Byron and Valerra knew he wasn’t completely truthful, but Regan sat with his big green eyes staring at Jim.
Jim kept them home from school the following day, after they had the night to think and process the information that their mom had gone away. The school had already been alerted to the situation and informed that Hallie was not allowed on the grounds or to pick up the kids. If she appeared at all, they were to call the police.
The court order had been easier than he expected to obtain. Hallie’s record of drinking, a couple of DUIs over the past few years, and the proof of adultery, it had only taken a couple of days to secure it. The court deemed her a possible danger to the children and flight risk. Jim moved the children’s passports to his safe at his office at school, where Hallie couldn’t get to them.
Byron found him in his study as he was looking over a contract for a new PE teacher. He planned to expand his physical education program this coming spring term.
“Dad?”
The small voice broke into his thoughts and Jim looked up. “Yes, son?”
“Can I come in?”
“Of course,” Jim smiled warmly at the boy, wondering why Byron would ask such a thing. He had told them where he’d be if they wanted to talk to him. It occurred to him none of his children ever came to visit him in the office. He made a point of leaving his door open.
Byron walked in shyly and stood for a moment.
“Sit,” Jim said gently.
Byron sat in one of the dark leather chairs opposite Jim. His big dark eyes studied his father.
“Is Mom coming back?” he asked.
Jim set his pen down, and rested his chin in his palm, elbow propped on the desk. His eyes looked at the slender boy perched on the chair.
“She won’t be living here again,” he said. “When two people get a divorce, one has to leave. She’ll have her own place eventually.”
“Why did she leave?” Byron asked.
“Your Mom had some issues that she’s getting help for.” Jim wasn’t about to tell the boy his mother was screwing her old boyfriend and still drinking.
“The drinking?” Byron asked. Jim nodded.
“That’s the big one.”
“Do you still love her?”
Jim hesitated. He wasn’t really sure he had ever loved her. “I will always care about your mother,” he answered truthfully. “She gave me the three of you, and I couldn’t ask for more.”
“When do we get to see her?” Valerra asked from the doorway.
Jim motioned her to come in. She did, and stood behind her brother.
“She can’t come around for a while. It’s part of her treatment.”
“So who’s going to stay with us?” Byron’s forehead wrinkled as he frowned.
“I am,” Jim answered in surprise.
“But you’re never here,” Valerra said. “I mean, usually.”
Jim flinched. “I will be,” he said quietly. “I promise. I’ve got a new assistant to help run the school so I can take care of you three. I know I haven’t been around as much as I should have, and I’m sorry for that. But from here on out, I’m here. That door is always open. I don’t ever want you kids to think you can’t come in here.”
“Mom always told us to stay away from here,” Byron answered.
Jim clenched his jaw but withheld his temper. He had promised himself he wouldn’t turn into one of those hateful men who slandered their ex. Hallie had spent the last twelve years raising the children, and there was no telling what she might have filled their heads with.
“You’re all welcome in here anytime. I always have time for you, I hope you never think that I don’t.”
Jim desperately wanted to hug his children but he knew from the serious looks on their faces they were mulling this situation over. They both nodded and left the room.
Jim ran one hand over his hair. Hallie had been telling them all these years to stay away form his office. No wonder Byron knocked and was so uncertain. What the hell else had she told them?
Jim managed to make dinner without burning the house down, but the meal was silent. Valerra had set the formal dining table they usually sat at, but Jim insisted they eat at the more casual table in the breakfast room. His children obeyed quietly. But there was no rambunctious laughter or teasing like he had always imagined, or remembered from the Belden household in the days of his youth. It occurred to him the only times his children were even slightly animated and loud were family gatherings of some sort, and even then, they got lost in the crowd of the older, rowdier kids.
“Well,” he said cheerfully as Byron cleared the plates. “It’s Wednesday. What do you like to watch on Wednesday?”
“Mom only allows us one hour of television, after we do our homework,” Byron answered.
“You don’t have homework tonight,” Jim smiled. “So let’s find something on TV to enjoy, okay?”
Regan’s face lit up.
He rinsed the dishes and stuck them in the washer, then joined his kids in the living room. Settling himself on to the emerald green sofa between Valerra and Byron, Regan climbed into his lap as they hunted for something to watch on TV.
***
After the kids were dropped off at school the next morning, Jim headed to the school just to check in on Bernie. Bernie was at her desk, typing furiously. She had a Bluetooth phone on each ear, and he suspected they were different phones. As usual she wore another dark suit. He wondered if she owned anything that wasn’t navy, black or dark gray. Her dark hair was tightly twisted back at the nape of her neck. Did she ever take it down?
“Good morning Mr. Frayne,” she glanced up with a smile.
“Jim,” he corrected her for the hundredth time. “And good morning.”
“Your messages are on your desk as well as your meetings for today. I have three interviews lined up for you for a reliable housekeeper and cook, and I do know an excellent chauffeur company if you want the children driven to school. I wasn’t sure if you preferred to take them yourself. I also have a superb recommendation for a security service, if you feel the children need to have a guard to prevent Mrs. Frayne from seeing them.”
“Wow,” Jim said. “I, uh, I don’t really know yet.”
“Just let me know if you decide to explore the use of any of them,” she said pleasantly. “I’ll take care of the preliminary interviews.”
“Thank you,” he smiled at her. Efficient indeed.
For the first time in a long time, he didn’t feel like closing his office door.
It was mid afternoon when he heard the door slam. Hallie’s high pitched shriek was easily heard.
“Get out of my way, you bitch!”
Jim bolted from his desk as Bernie squared off with Hallie. His wife’s hair was in a sloppy ponytail, she wore jeans and a sweatshirt, her eyes bloodshot and he could smell the alcohol from where he stood. Hallie was taller than Trixie, Diana or Honey, around five foot nine, but Bernie was six feet and a whole lot stronger.
“Mr. Frayne is not available,” Bernie said firmly. “And you are not permitted on these grounds. I’ve already notified security.”
“You must be the whore he’s banging now,” Hallie snapped. “You’re not his usual blonde bimbo taste but I think he’ll stick his dick in anything that walks, even a she-man like you!”
“Mrs. Frayne, you need to leave,” Bernie said firmly.
“Get out of my way, you giant heifer of a whore!”
Jim reached the doorway as Hallie flew at Bernie.
“Hallie, stop!” Jim shouted.
Bernie stepped forward and with one quick, fluid movement, grabbed Hallie by the arm and twisted it behind her, dropping the drunken woman to her knees, securing her other arm as well, effectively neutralizing Hallie.
Jim remembered she was a certified bodyguard with martial arts training.
“You are not allowed on school grounds, Mrs. Frayne,” Bernie said firmly.
Jim just gaped at the scene as a uniformed security guard appeared.
“Ma’am?” the guard was stunned.
Bernie pulled Hallie to her feet. “Mrs. Frayne needs an escort off the premises please, Billy.”
“Yes, ma’am!” Was the admiring quick answer.
Bernie pulled away and let Hallie go once Billy had her under control.
“You bitch,” Hallie snarled. “I’ll sue your ass for assault!”
“Hallie, you attacked her and you’re not even allowed on this property. Get the Hell out of here,” Jim found his voice.
Hallie glared at Jim, back at Bernie, and turned to leave. She spun around, pulling away from Billy and punched Bernie in the face hard, startling the taller woman and knocking her glasses off. Billy grabbed Hallie and pinned her arms behind her.
“Get her out of here!” Jim ordered, rushing to Bernie’s side. “My God, are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” she said softly, touching her face gently. Her glasses had flown off and landed on the floor. “She just surprised me, is all.”
“Let me see,” Jim touched her jaw. “It’s going to bruise; I know she’s got a hard right hook.”
“It’s all right, I’ve had worse,” she smiled. He reached for her glasses and slid them on, thinking it was a pity to cover such pretty eyes. He realized for the first time they were a beautiful shade of warm brown, big and framed by thick lashes.
“Why don’t you let me take you to the infirmary and get some ice for that,” he suggested. She nodded. “I know they’re prepared for this, with all these boys around.”
“I think I will. But I can make it on my own.”
“I don’t mind.”
But she waved him back to work and headed for the infirmary.
After she left, Jim returned to his office. Moments later, there was a knock and he looked up to see Marge Trask in the doorway.
“Marge!” He smiled at her and rose.
“Hello, Jim.” The elderly lady hugged him back. “I just came by to see how Bernie is doing.”
He smiled. “How on earth did she get that name?”
“Sadly, her father was a misogynistic cretin who wanted several boys. He only got her so he named her after himself and his father. But please don’t mention I told you that. She’s a bit sensitive about it.”
“Not a word,” he agreed.
“Is she here?” Marge asked.
His smile vanished.
“She’ll be back in a minute,” he sighed. It took only a moment to recap what had happened.
Marge shook her head.
“She’s lucky Bernie didn’t mop the floor with her. The girl did some cage fighting a few years back,” Marge said proudly.
“Maybe I really should hire her as my bodyguard too,” he laughed.
Marge smiled. “Don’t let that professional demeanor fool you. The girls lives in sweats on her days off and works out almost nightly. Her favorite food is pizza and she eats it for breakfast regularly.”
Jim grinned at her. Maybe it was time he got to know his new secretary better. Her bodyguard skills might be handy after all.
Meet the cast in full & see the family tree!
***
Author’s Notes
- A huge yeee-haa to Ronda, my lovely editor who helps keep me on track!
- Word Count, 5846
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