Without A Pail

by Michelle Marra

  “So who is Jacqueline Evans?” She asked before she could stop herself. She had to know.

  “Oh, she is the most amazing associate I’ve ever had. She is the one that made the discovery.” Jeff exuded pride which was evident in his demeanor.

  “Really…well that is wonderful. Is she here? I would like to meet her and say thank you.” Jill smiled as she pinched her upper thighs together. If this Jacqueline was the woman she ran into she wasn’t sure what she would do other than make a fool of herself again.

  “Oh, no she isn’t. I’m sorry, I gave Jackie the rest of the day off.”

  “Too bad. Well, let me at least show my appreciation and take the two of you out to dinner tomorrow night.” Not even a week of accepting you may be gay or may like women and you’re already on the prowl. Jill thought as her smiled widened.

  “That is very kind of you.”

  “Please don’t decline, you deserve this Jeff; you and your associate. Let’s meet at Daniel tomorrow night at 8:00 p.m.”

  Jeff knew this was not an invitation as much as it was an obligation to his client, “Sounds fantastic so how could I refuse?”

  Jill stood from her seat and met his gaze, “Great, I’ll see you both then. Oh, when will we have our day in court?”

  “I will file a claim with the courts this afternoon to contest the divorce. This will no doubt set off some alarms with Hardy and they will counter it with the power of attorney; which in turn will schedule a hearing for both parties to be heard and present evidence to support their claims. And knowing Hardy and his connections, it won’t take long for the hearing to be put up on the docket. But I’m not exactly sure, so as soon as I hear from the courts, I will let you know and please Jill don’t say a word to anyone about what we have up our sleeves.”

  “No worries, I won’t say a word. But it is going to be awesome to see Bill squirm in court.” As she began to walk out of the office, she turned to face her attorney. “I can’t begin to thank you enough,” She said as she pulled him in for a quick appreciative hug.

  “Well, I think dinner at the most luxurious restaurant in Manhattan is quite the ‘thank you,’ Jeff smiled as he walked down the corridor with Jill to his right.

  “I’m looking forward to meeting your shining star. See you tomorrow night.” She shook her attorney’s hand and stepped into the elevator. Her face grew warm and the smile that displayed across her face was also telling the state of her heart at the moment. She was giddy, excited, and somewhat afraid. Her stomach fluttered, twisted, and flip-flopped; it was one of the most nauseating and best feelings she had ever felt. She knew…somehow she just knew the woman she bumped into at the elevator was Miss Jacqueline Evans, and the smile on the woman’s face didn’t indicate an annoyance or disgust with Jill’s outright staring; so maybe…just maybe this fortuitous meeting could turn into something more; a love connection perhaps.

  Jill pulled up to the valet area in front of the restaurant and stepped from her Mercedes, dressed to the nines in her Versace wool trousers in black, black and royal blue Gucci stilettos; a very breast-accentuating silk camisole and her open front, zipper pocket Versace jacket. She felt as if she was on top of the world. She had sort of come to terms with her sexuality, she was getting ready to stick it to her ex-husband and get what was rightfully hers, and she had Molly which embedded her furry self into Jill’s heart. Finally life was going her way and she felt good about the direction it was taking her.

  Tonight was going to be an expensive night; prices at the five-star restaurant were going to prove its status plus the mint she promised to pay Casey for watching her beloved fur-kid. The day before she had begged and pleaded with Casey to watch Molly for a few hours, she knew it was last minute, but this was important. This wasn’t just a client meeting, it was an ‘I must meet Jacqueline Evans’ meeting. Casey stated she had plans with her girlfriend and couldn’t break her date again or she would end up single. She adamantly said ‘no.’ But not more than ten minutes later she called to accept stating that her girlfriend had to cancel for a work function. Casey would only do it for triple her rate, which Jill thought was pretty rude considering she had no plans for the night but since Jill was in a bind and over a barrel she relented.

  “This better be worth it,” she said, hoping that when she joined her guests at the bar, she would not be disappointed with a fermented old law associate for the rest of the evening.

  Making her way through the hordes of guests, she stepped into the lounge and saw her attorney almost immediately chatting with a woman whose back was to her. As she stepped closer, she could see the woman’s hair, shoulder line… “Oh my God…it’s her!” Jill gasped as she continued to walk toward them.

  Jeff spotted her and waved. Jill saw him lean over to the woman he was sitting with and gesture toward her as she approached and the woman spun around in her chair and smiled.

  Jill was beside herself, not only was it the girl she bumped into yesterday morning, this Jacqueline was exquisite looking and very refined. She didn’t realize her smile was just bearing on the side of creepy and the look of Jeff’s face confirmed it as he looked at her with a questioning gaze.

  Jill converted her smile to a closed-mouth and held out her hand to the blonde sitting at the high top tables sipping at a martini glass. “Hi, I’m Jillian Abbott.”

  The woman shook the offered hand, “It is very nice to finally meet you Mrs. Abbott. I’m Jackie Evans.”

  “Oh please call me Jill. And I’m so very sorry for practically running you over when I came out of the elevator yesterday.”

  “Please don’t give it a second thought. I wasn’t paying attention myself, so if an apology is in order, it should come from me.”

  Jill smiled realizing that she still had Jackie’s hand in hers and covered it with her other hand, “No apologies needed…let’s just chalk it up to a preemptive meeting.” She could feel her face begin to heat up when she remembered the ogling.

  Jackie pulled her hand from Jill’s who seemed reluctant to give it back, between the blatant staring at her chest and the near handshake fuck, she was beginning to think this woman was interested in much more than a ‘thank you’. She smiled back at the not-so-discreet look on her clients face. Oh shit! she thought, this woman definitely wanted to take this meeting a little farther. The way she was staring at Jackie was uncomfortable and she was acting as if Jeff wasn’t even sitting there. She had to break the ice, the spell, or whatever it was that had this woman honed in on her like she was a mouse ready to be devoured by a Hawk. There was no way she was getting involved with a client. Talk about a mess and a definite way to get blackballed, disbarred, and run out of town. Besides that, Casey and Suzanne were all she could handle at the moment. Not that the dark-haired and caramel-eyed beauty wouldn’t be a nice addition to her bed. Jackie giggled in spite of herself, it was definitely the alcohol talking since it had been quite a while since she juggled a few women.

  Jackie waved the waitress over, “Excuse me Jill, would you like a cocktail?” she asked when the waitress approached the table. Finally, the spell was broken and Jill nodded her head and diverted her attention to the waitress. Jackie almost laughed out loud, Subtle!

  “Yes, thank you. I’ll have what she’s having…but make mine filthy.” As the waitress walked away, Jill smiled and winked at Jackie.

  Jackie swallowed hard as she sipped her drink, capturing Jeff’s eyes over the rim of her glass. The question in hers made him shrug slightly as if to say, ‘don’t know…but you’re on your own.’ She could see it now, being pimped out by Jeff as he held the promotion they discussed earlier today as bait to submit herself to anything that Jillian Abbott desired. After all, she was a multi-million dollar client. No way! She said to herself as she sipped her drink and returned Jill’s smile.

  As they were sitting at their table enjoying the meal’s third course, something in the tone of Jill’s voice sounded familiar as she listened to her talk about her ex-husband Bill…th
e realization jerked Jackie’s head up finding Jill’s eyes. Caramel eyes….holy shit! The gasp made her choke on a bite of her baguette with pesto spread across it. This was the woman that berated her, yelled at her like she was a child in the park and then again in front of her sister’s shop. This was the hot-headed lecturing, know-it-all that made her feel like a dim-wit. Oh no, the four martini’s that had turned Jill into a ‘maybe’ and a ‘why the hell not’ just lost their sway and her pride put a firm ‘no’ on it.

  Yes, she sat there and engaged, listened, and even flirted but that was it. She was not going to fuck this woman for any amount of money, prestige, power, or for the good of the firm. What she wanted to do was confront her, ask Jill to recollect their two chance encounters and have a say, tell her she was a pompous ass and this would only be a client-attorney relationship. Dream on, sister. It will be a cold day in hell before you see me naked, she thought as she continued to smile at Jill and her incessant come-ons.

  Then as Jackie sat there with the realization of whom this woman was, she was astounded that Jill didn’t recognize her, maybe not from in front of her sister’s shop, but she certainly should have from the encounter at the park. But she just figured that these kinds of women probably berate lots of people throughout their day and after a while, the faces of the stunned and shamed are washed away in the sea with so many others. Just faceless pawns for the wealthy and bored to abuse.

  Jillian Abbott stood from her seat and as if Jeff pulled Jackie with puppet strings she rose from her seat in sync with her boss as Jill excused herself from the table. When Jackie was sure she was out of earshot she snapped her attention to the bemused man sitting across from her.

  “What the fuck was that?” she asked him while she downed the rest of her martini.

  He shook his head, “I don’t know…but she apparently likes you.”

  “Really? I didn’t pick up on that,” Jackie said sarcastically as she rolled her eyes. She picked up her empty martini glass and shook it as the waiter walked by…ignoring the piercing gaze from the other side of the table.

  “What? It’s on her dime and besides if I have to endure her outright trying to seduce me…I need to be drunk.”

  “Why? She is attractive,” Jeff said his face still bearing amusement.

  “Yes, she is gorgeous, but that isn’t the point. Looks aren’t everything and I’m not some prize for the client to take home so don’t you dare pimp me out.”

  Jeff’s head fell as his shoulders began to bounce in sync with his laughter.

  “This is not fucking funny. You better take me home…you better save me,” Jackie’s brow furrowed, she was getting frustrated with Jeff’s continued laughter. “Come on Jeff, don’t throw me to the wolves.”

  He could barely control his mirth and Jackie thought he would fall from his seat at any moment and roll around on the floor in his amusement. She didn’t think it was one bit funny and she was going to nip this in the bud. “I have a girlfriend you know.” She said in a huff as she pulled her cell out of the small purse and opened her messenger app. Before she had time to think the idea through, she typed and sent the text.

  A client is trying to seduce me…please come to Daniel on 65th and save me!

  Meanwhile, Jill stood in the ladies room staring at her own reflection wondering what in the hell she was doing so blatantly coming on to her attorney’s associate. She pinched her eyes closed as her head shook in disbelief. After reading some articles on the lesbian dating scene as well as beginning to read a lesbian romance novel, it just seemed like normal ‘lesbian’ behavior. Everything she read had some strong alpha female giving tips on how to attract women. Even the author wrote of an alpha female which had women left and right swooning over her. She figured she’d give it a try…be the dominant one, the one to take charge. But Jackie didn’t seem receptive to her overzealousness. At first she thought maybe she was too subtle, but after seeing Jackie roll her eyes, Jill knew she was coming on too strong and even after trying to tone it down it still appeared to be too much. Now she was sure there wasn’t much that could be done to salvage the would-be connection. Maybe confess…tell the blonde with the amazing smile at her table she is new to this game and really wasn’t sure how to play it.

  “Oh yeah, that’s what every lesbian wants to hear…that you’re a newbie. Ugh!” Jill turned away from her reflection utterly disgusted with herself. She knew the only thing left to do was to apologize for being an ass. Then as she walked from the ladies room it dawned on her, “Oh my God…she’s probably not gay. I can’t believe that never occurred to me,” Jill mumbled as she made her way through the tables seeking out her own. Still, there was an apology in order, not only for coming onto Jackie but also for neglecting her attorney Jeff. After all, she invited them both out to celebrate and her actions during dinner were extremely rude.

  “I’m so sorry to have kept you both waiting,” Jill said as she waved off her guest’s gesture of chivalry as they stood from their seats. “I want to apologize to you both for my appalling behavior tonight.” She said afraid to make eye contact with either of them.

  “Apology…for what?” Jeff said his eyebrows raised, nearly disappearing into his scalp. “You don’t have anything to apologize for.” He looked over at Jackie with shock when he heard a cocky grunt come from the drunk woman on the other side of the table. “Jackie….”

  “Jeff, please. I was a total ass tonight. I completely ignored you and treated Jackie like some dime-store floozy.” She set her gaze on Jackie capturing her beautiful blue gaze with her own. “I’m truly sorry that I disrespected, objectified, and diminished your contribution to my case, your position as an attorney, and your status as a woman. I’m truly, truly sorry.”

  Jackie smiled as she reached across the table and gently patted Jill’s hand, “No worries…apology accepted.”

  “Thank you. You are very gracious. I should have realized that you were probably straight.”

  “Straight?” Jackie tried to stifle a giggle. “No, I’m not straight. I’m quite gay, and I have a girlfriend who is picking me up…ah, here she is now.”

  Jill was astounded…her pride wounded. Jackie was gay and completely disinterested. How could this be? She was single and attractive, but now she felt like a fool…even worse an old fool.

  Jill watched the bright smile she had been admiring all night turn brighter as Jackie stood up and met the extremely overconfident and smug woman with a sensual kiss. She had only just met Jackie, but the expectation and hope she had for this evening were crushed into a million pieces and now just thrown in her face. She felt like she had been punched in the gut.

  “Jeffrey Collins, Jillian Abbott…this is Suzanne Brooks. She is a partner with Stash, Logan and Merriweather.”

  “Are you Jillian Abbott from Abbott industries?” Suzanne asked as she extended her hand.

  Jill narrowed her eyes while she shook the auburn haired woman’s hand, “I am.”

  “The Abbott name is buzzing all over the firm,” Suzanne said in an antagonistic tone as she pursed up her lips.

  “Is it now? What would make my company be the talk of such a large firm…seems Bob Hardy is still Bill’s lawyer,” Jill could not believe that sweet blonde across from her was dating a viper like Suzanne Brooks. Jill could see right through her, she had known women like that…they always seem to have an agenda and are rarely genuine. It made her sick that Jackie was just about cooing all over the woman. She wanted to shake her, tell her to run. She could see the evil in Suzanne’s eyes and she knew by the way Suzanne sat just about in front of Jackie that she was staking her claim.

  “Robert Hardy joined the partners at the firm,” Suzanne stated matter of fact as she glared at Jeff. “This one here had a great career at the firm…fast track to being a partner. She was about to write her own ticket when she chucked it all for a woman.”

  Both Jill and Jeff looked at Jackie in utter amazement. Jackie sunk back in her chair as she deflected her ey
es away from the ones staring at her from across the table.

  Oh God…please don’t tell me you dumped your life for that bitch, Jill thought as she swallowed the remnants of her martini and instantly needed another one.

  “Yup gave it all up for me. Followed me all the way to South Carolina. I was a fool to let her leave me. I won’t make that mistake again,” Suzanne’s voice was sweet and she laid her accent on as thick as she could.

  “What?” Jackie asked in amazement. Did she hear this right? Was Suzanne Brooks sorry for letting her go and wanted her back?

  “Oh Baby, I know I was a stupid fool to let you walk out of my life. I want you to come home.”

  Jackie smiled as she looked around the table, her face began to heat with the effects of embarrassment. “Can we discuss this later?”

  “Yes, come on Sugar. It’s time we get you home.” She stood up and practically pulled Jackie from her seat. “It was nice to meet the both of you.” Then she smiled and winked at Jill as she led Jackie away from the table by the hand.

  “Thank you for a wonderful dinner, Jill. I had a lovely time,” Jackie said as she tried to shake her hand as a gesture of good will and no hard feelings but was yanked away before contact was made.

  Both Jeff and Jill watched the two of them exit the restaurant. “Is it me or was she trying too hard to stake her claim.” Jeff said as his attention returned to his client.

  “Oh yes…way too hard. She was definitely marking her territory,” Jill said, her mind full of that viperous bitch and how she could make her pay. She knew Tom Merriweather…but if it was true that Hardy was now with his firm chances are his opinion has been tainted.