Read Online Having Jay's Baby (Having His Baby #2) by Fran Louise - Free Book Online
Authors: Fran Louise
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afternoon, that was all. One glorious afternoon with Stella. Nothing complicated, exactly like we’d agreed. “I’m in the middle of a divorce, and a possible investigation for fraud,” I said in an effort to remind Bull, and myself to a certain degree, of the matter at hand. “No memos, please.”
“Ah, yes, the investigation. I’m going to need a drink for this,” Fueller said, nodding towards the waiter. We ordered. Bull took off his jacket and rolled up his shirt sleeves. “I take it this is serious, then,” he said. “I figured as much when you called me. Though it would have been a lot simpler to talk on the phone, buddy. Martha isn’t thrilled about my missing the kids’ game this weekend.”
“I’ll make it up to her,” I said.
“What’s going on?”
I sat back and slipped my hands in my pockets. Where to start…? “Harry Benson was arrested this morning,” I said finally.
Fueller grimaced. “Yeah … I heard a rumour a couple of days back.”
“You knew?”
He shrugged. “It was on the cards, Jay. Don’t tell me you weren’t expecting it.”
“I wasn’t,” I countered. “Or at least, I wasn’t expecting it now.”
Fueller’s brows formed an inverted frown. “Look on the bright side, kid. You’ve already filed for divorce, so he’s not going to be your father-in-law much longer.”
“No,” I agreed, and scratched my head in a rush of frustration. “I wish it was that simple. You know he’s one of my father’s closest allies, right? And I can’t divorce my father, more’s the pity.” I exhaled to ease the tension in my chest. “How did you know this was coming and not tell me?”
“The guy’s as bent as a spoon,” Fueller said, tossing off the accusation. “Come on, Jay; nobody’s surprised by this.”
I took another sip of my drink. “Do you know what my father used to call Harry, back when I was in college and he and Harry were thinking about running for office?” The bitter memory was as sour as the taste of the whisky in my mouth. “He’d call him his consigliere .” I lifted my brows at my friend’s chuckle. “Yeah, I know – but it gives you an idea of their relationship … and their ethics.”
I breathed deeply of the fresh spring air, my mind whirring like a mechanical clock. Whether or not I was actually implicated, the investigation was probably going to turn up on my doorstep at some point. “I should never have floated when I did,” I said.
“It’s not like you ain’t got a future ahead of you, kid,” Fueller said dryly.
“Yeah, but if I’d hung on a few years, waited to see how the land was lying…” I shrugged. “The wolves like my father wouldn’t have been sniffing around, ready to purchase all that stock. I’ve shot myself in the foot.”
“A lot of people are going to presume it was intentional, you know,” Fueller cut in. “Keeping it in the family, so to speak.”
I laughed at this. “Yeah, well they don’t know my family.”
“So you’re worried about the fallout from the investigation, the link between your father and Harry,” Fueller said after we’d considered the view for a moment. “Anyone who’s been within spitting distance of Harry in the last twenty years is financially linked to him somehow, whether they realise it or not. There’ll be plenty of people running for cover over the next few months. I don’t see why you have to worry any more than anyone else. I know there’s a family connection, but—”
“I want my own investigation,” I said, blunt with determination.
Fueller stopped. He lifted one brow and took a sip of his drink.
“I know my father. I know how he works,” I said, eyes narrow against the cutting sunlight. “He’s not happy about my divorce. Harry Benson isn’t happy about it, either. My father’s already made some melodramatic noises about taking a more active role in the board of directors.”
“With a view to what?” Fueller asked.
“Shutting me
“Ah, yes, the investigation. I’m going to need a drink for this,” Fueller said, nodding towards the waiter. We ordered. Bull took off his jacket and rolled up his shirt sleeves. “I take it this is serious, then,” he said. “I figured as much when you called me. Though it would have been a lot simpler to talk on the phone, buddy. Martha isn’t thrilled about my missing the kids’ game this weekend.”
“I’ll make it up to her,” I said.
“What’s going on?”
I sat back and slipped my hands in my pockets. Where to start…? “Harry Benson was arrested this morning,” I said finally.
Fueller grimaced. “Yeah … I heard a rumour a couple of days back.”
“You knew?”
He shrugged. “It was on the cards, Jay. Don’t tell me you weren’t expecting it.”
“I wasn’t,” I countered. “Or at least, I wasn’t expecting it now.”
Fueller’s brows formed an inverted frown. “Look on the bright side, kid. You’ve already filed for divorce, so he’s not going to be your father-in-law much longer.”
“No,” I agreed, and scratched my head in a rush of frustration. “I wish it was that simple. You know he’s one of my father’s closest allies, right? And I can’t divorce my father, more’s the pity.” I exhaled to ease the tension in my chest. “How did you know this was coming and not tell me?”
“The guy’s as bent as a spoon,” Fueller said, tossing off the accusation. “Come on, Jay; nobody’s surprised by this.”
I took another sip of my drink. “Do you know what my father used to call Harry, back when I was in college and he and Harry were thinking about running for office?” The bitter memory was as sour as the taste of the whisky in my mouth. “He’d call him his consigliere .” I lifted my brows at my friend’s chuckle. “Yeah, I know – but it gives you an idea of their relationship … and their ethics.”
I breathed deeply of the fresh spring air, my mind whirring like a mechanical clock. Whether or not I was actually implicated, the investigation was probably going to turn up on my doorstep at some point. “I should never have floated when I did,” I said.
“It’s not like you ain’t got a future ahead of you, kid,” Fueller said dryly.
“Yeah, but if I’d hung on a few years, waited to see how the land was lying…” I shrugged. “The wolves like my father wouldn’t have been sniffing around, ready to purchase all that stock. I’ve shot myself in the foot.”
“A lot of people are going to presume it was intentional, you know,” Fueller cut in. “Keeping it in the family, so to speak.”
I laughed at this. “Yeah, well they don’t know my family.”
“So you’re worried about the fallout from the investigation, the link between your father and Harry,” Fueller said after we’d considered the view for a moment. “Anyone who’s been within spitting distance of Harry in the last twenty years is financially linked to him somehow, whether they realise it or not. There’ll be plenty of people running for cover over the next few months. I don’t see why you have to worry any more than anyone else. I know there’s a family connection, but—”
“I want my own investigation,” I said, blunt with determination.
Fueller stopped. He lifted one brow and took a sip of his drink.
“I know my father. I know how he works,” I said, eyes narrow against the cutting sunlight. “He’s not happy about my divorce. Harry Benson isn’t happy about it, either. My father’s already made some melodramatic noises about taking a more active role in the board of directors.”
“With a view to what?” Fueller asked.
“Shutting me
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