IN BED WITH THE BOSS

“I should be annoyed with both of you,” Janet Harper said, her smile erasing the reproach from her words. Leaning forward, she dropped her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “But the two of you outing yourselves as a couple tonight has made my little dinner party the social event of the season.”

Jennifer smiled, glancing up at Scott, “I told Scott he should at least give you some warning of who his plus one would be, but…” She tipped her head to the side and murmured, “The rumors are true about that stubborn nature of his.”

“I find myself giving in to you way too often, though. My reputation might not survive it,” Scott replied, playing along. He squeezed her neck and brought her closer, brushing his lips over the side of her head.

“Well, damn.” Janet said to her husband in an amused whisper. “Honey, I need you to take notes.”

Beside Janet, her husband snorted lightly. “We’ve been married thirty-two years, darling. My hand is cramped.”

Jennifer’s laughter drew more gazes in their direction, and Scott smiled in pure delight at the other couple’s amusement.

“Dinner is almost ready,” Janet said, shaking her head and throwing Donald a mock-irritated glance. “Let’s go, you.”

“That went well,” Jennifer murmured, as soon as they were out of earshot. She slowly released his arm, but before they could recover from their act, they had to put it on again.

“Well, don’t you two look cozy,” a new,

familiar and despised voice drawled from behind them.

Scott released Jennifer, shifting to her side and slipping an arm around her waist. He faced Emily and Paul Wesley, careful to compose his features so they betrayed none of the disgust and hatred that burned in his chest or the disdain he harbored for her and the Senator.

Underneath those emotions, satisfaction hummed through his veins. Good. He’d been waiting for their arrival. He’d expected Bruce to be with them, but since he wasn’t glued to Emily’s side, the other man must not be in attendance. That was a disappointment, but Bruce’s fiance and her deceptive father were good enough… at least for today.

He switched his attention to Emily. There was a calculating gleam in her brown eyes. Given her long dark hair, sensuous features and curvaceous body, he couldn’t deny her beauty, but it was hard, like a lacquer that distracted from the coldness beneath.

“I must admit, when we heard the rumors of you being here with Scott, Jennifer, we didn’t believe it at first,” Paul said, his tone as amicable as any good politicians. But his eyes blazed, yelling the things one would never want heard on an open lapel mic. “Your brother didn’t mention you were attending tonight. Or that you were…” he paused deliberately and shifted his eyes to Scott for a moment “…seeing someone new. I’m sure he’ll be interested to discover this turn of events.”

If the senator had expected Jennifer to quail under his not-so-subtle condemnation, he’d sadly underestimated her.

“Bruce is a wonderful brother, but he’s just that- my brother. And I don’t require his approval for who I choose to spend time with. Just as he didn’t ask for mine when he decided to engage your daughter.” Jennifer smiled, and it could’ve cut glass. “Although I would’ve gladly offered it.”

Paul blinked, his mouth hardening at the corners. “Your brother and I have so much in common. We both admire honesty-and loyalty.”

“You don’t really want to go there, do you, Paul?” Scott interjected, arching an eyebrow. He forced his voice to remain even, bored, but injected a thread of steel through it. He’d be damned if he’d let the man intimidate Jennifer or belittle her with his condescending bullshit. Especially not in front of him. “I’d be willing to discuss both with you. At length.”

“Let’s go, Daddy.” Emily chuckled, the sound strained, her lovely features tight. “There are more people we need to speak with.”Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Jennifer waited until her soon-to-be sister-in-law and her father were out of earshot, then sighed. “God. This evening just became infinitely longer.” She said,

“I beg to disagree.” Scott replied and settled a hand on the small of her back again, guiding her forward. “I believe the fun has just begun.”

_________

Jennifer breathed deeply as she washed her hands in the bathroom. This moment alone, without the narrow eyed glares from both Emily and the senator, or the microscopic attention of the other guests, was a mercy. She hated being the subject of all that speculation.

They’d reminded her of vultures, waiting to see who’d get their pick of carrion. Scott McCall seemed unfazed. But all those sidelong, greedy glances and not-so-quiet whispers… They’d crawled over her like ants attacking a picnic. By the time dinner concluded, she’d nearly raced to the bathroom. To be free. If only for a few moments.

“Can’t stay in here forever,” she said to her reflection.

That was the first sign of losing it, right? Talking to oneself. She smiled, shaking her head as she headed toward the restroom door. Her mother used to do the same, mumble to herself as she puttered around the kitchen when Dad wasn’t there to catch her. God, Jennifer missed her. Missed her hugs, her quiet assurances, her confidence in Jennifer.

Well, one thing Margaret Bennet would’ve reprimanded her about was hiding like a coward in the bathroom during a dinner party. Snorting lightly, Jennifer exited the powder room…and nearly collided with Emily. Damn. Not again.

“Hi, Emily .” She greeted her brother’s fiancée with a smile. “I’m sorry if you had to wait. The bathroom is all yours.”

She shifted to the side, prepared to walk around the other woman, but the futile hope of avoiding a confrontation died a quick death when Emily stepped to the side as well, blocking Jennifer’s escape. Emily smiled in turn, but it didn’t reach her chilly brown eyes.

“No hurry, Jennifer. I was hoping to catch you alone for a few moments,” she purred. “So we could talk about somethings….”

“I’m assuming you’re referring to Scott,” Jennifer said, resigning herself to this conversation. It wasn’t one she could’ve circumvented, but she hadn’t anticipated having it outside of the guest restroom.

“You’re a cool one, aren’t you, Jennifer?” Emily asked, slowly shaking her head. “You never mentioned that you knew him… or that you were in a relationship with him. Even your brother doesn’t know about your pretense. What kind of person are you? You know how your brother feels about him.”

Anger flickered to life, crackling like dry wood set ablaze. “I didn’t pretend to anyone, as you put it. It’s my private life. And like I told your father, I don’t need approval for my relationships,” she said, working to keep the bite of rising irritation from her tone. After all, this was her future sister-in-law. Even if more and more she was beginning to question the wisdom of Bruce’s choice. “Now, if I’d known you were attending this dinner party, I would’ve informed you so you weren’t taken by surprise. But I wasn’t aware.”

Several silent moments passed, and a fury-filled tension thickened between them.

“Your brother always brags about how smart you are.” Emily tsked softly. “Jennifer earned this degree. Jennifer graduated with honors from this program. So intelligent. And yet, when it comes to men, you’re so naive.” Her expression softened with a sympathy that was as false as her lashes. “You have no idea what you are doing, do you? Bruce told me a lot about him” She chuckled, the sound taunting. “It’s almost pathetic in its transparency. He’s using you, Jennifer. You’re caught up in his little plan to make Bruce angry.”

Pain, serrated and ugly, slashed at her, the truth of Emily’s words the razor sharp knife. Why did it hurt? She’d gone into this charade knowing the reason behind it. Scott hadn’t tried to deny it. But reason had no place when humiliation and pain pumped out of her with every heartbeat.

Forcing her lips to move and her arm to lift, she waved away Emily’s barb tipped claims as if they were petty annoyances. “I don’t see how any of this is your business, Emily. What is between Scott and me is just that. Between us. Now if you’ll excuse me…”

She moved forward again. If Emily chose to get in the way, this time she’d find her ass meeting the floor, she thought. Thankfully, Emily didn’t try to block her, and Jennifer headed toward the dining room with a smothered sigh of relief.

“Ask him what happened between his twin sister and Bruce.”

Emily’s parting shot struck true. By sheer force of will, Jennifer kept walking.

But it was with a limp.

——-

Jennifer Bennet shrugged into her suit jacket, studying herself in her room’s cheval mirror. The slim fit of the gray, pin-striped jacket and pencil skirt were flattering, emphasizing the curves of her waist and hips. The cream blouse with the throat-to-waist ruffle lent it a feminine flair.

She’d gathered her hair into a loose bun and fastened a pair of her mother’s favorite diamond studs to her ears.

The whole look was professional, fashionable… And armor.