Scandal (Dirty Laundry Book 2)

by Jackie Paxson

“You got that after having a historic amount of orgasms?”

  Talia nodded her head. “He can’t possibly love me like I love him. I feel like he’s a part of me. Like I’d be lost without him. He doesn’t feel that way. He is fine just getting up after sex and taking a shower or washing himself off. He can’t get away from me fast enough. It’s probably that new co-star. She’s the one he really loves. I saw it in the kissing scene I saw the other day. They have an emotional connection he doesn’t have with me.” Talia sobbed.

  What the hell was wrong with her best friend? “Talia, none of that makes sense. Zeke loves you with everything he has. No one is going to take him from you. You are starting to sound a bit looney.”

  “That’s what Zeke said. I’m not, though. I am completely rational.” Tears streamed down her face.

  Chrissy looked at her watch. She needed to leave in ten minutes. The doorbell rang giving her the perfect excuse to escape her sobbing friend. When she opened the door, Zeke stood on her doorstep gulping in air.

  “Is. She. Here?” He huffed through the words.

  Chrissy just opened the door wider letting him into the townhouse. He marched over to Talia and squatted in front of her. Chrissy had no interest in getting in the middle of their spat. It was clear they weren’t over, but something was wrong with Talia. She looked at her watch again. Five minutes.

  “Talia? Are you still ok to watch Mariah today?” Chrissy asked.

  “We will be fine,” Zeke said while holding Talia.

  “Ok. You have my cell number if you need me.”

  Grabbing her purse and coffee, Chrissy walked out the front door and into the summer heat of southern California. The smart suit she’d bought was a bit warm, but it was too late to change. She rushed to her rental car, started it up and pulled away while listening to the directions from a sexy Australian actor’s voice.

  She just knew the rest of her day was going to go great. It needed to go great therefore it would. It was all about positive thinking. If only she bought that crap.

  Chapter 11

  Lady Luck is a Vengeful Bitch

  Navigating the streets of L.A. to find her way to Top Dog Enterprises was a very different experience from what she was used to. Her small-town driving skills of avoiding wayward cattle didn’t quite come in handy unless women carrying teacup dogs in their purses were considered wayward cattle. Cars buzzed in and out of lanes cutting her off more than once. By the time she’d arrived and found a parking spot she was a nervous wreck.

  Chrissy took out a compact she’d kept in her car to check her hair and makeup. After doing a few touch-ups, she grabbed her purse and coffee.

  With a final look in the rearview mirror, she said, “You’ve got this!”

  Stepping out of the car, she straightened her skirt and blouse. Her heels clicked against the pavement as she approached the building. She squinted up at the mirrored monolith of a building. Sun reflected off of the windowpanes. Cursing herself for leaving her sunglasses in the car, she walked up to the building. As she grabbed for the door handle it swung toward her. Unable to stop the door, it smacked into her shoulder causing her coffee to splash onto her.

  The group of men leaving didn’t even give her a second look as they chatted and walked toward a waiting vehicle. Chrissy’s skin felt the burn of the coffee through her blouse and skirt. When she looked down and saw the extent of the damage she cringed. Coffee stained the light grey skirt and the entire front of the blouse. Thankfully, nothing got on the jacket but if she didn’t try to clean it off, she’d never be able to wear it again. She needed this outfit since her luggage still hadn’t been found.

  Chrissy ran through the lobby to the bathroom. As she stormed into the ladies’ room her heels slid. Losing her balance, she fell onto the wet ladies’ room floor. When she tried to get up her shoes slipped again causing her to plop right back onto the wet floor. Chrissy put her head in her hands willing herself not to cry. It was supposed to be the beginning of something great. Not the catastrophe it was turning out to be.

  Bracing herself against the wall she crawled up the wall to the sink area. One look in the mirror told her exactly what she didn’t want to know. Her skirt was ruined. The blouse would have to be dry-cleaned. An expense she didn’t need. With a little soap and water, she attempted to lighten the coffee stained clothing. Unfortunately, it only managed to make things worse. It turned the blouse transparent. Instead of being ready for an internship she looked ready for a wet t-shirt contest.

  Her cell phone chimed letting her know she only had ten minutes. She carefully tiptoed over to the hand dryers. Turning the nozzle toward her shirt she pulled it away from her chest hoping some of the damage would at least be dried. As her shirt billowed out, a woman barged into the bathroom. She was impeccably dressed in a Chanel suit, Christian Louboutin heels, perfect makeup and not a hair out of place. A look of distaste crossed her features as she went to an empty stall.

  Another chime had Chrissy quickly putting her jacket on and rushing out the door. As she passed the mirror, she noticed what the woman saw that horrified her. Chrissy’s hair looked like a throwback to the 1980’s. The dryer had inadvertently teased it up. With a sigh, Chrissy left the bathroom.

  “Fancy seeing you here,” a deep male voice said.

  Chrissy snapped her head toward the devilishly handsome man leaning against the wall. His strong arms were crossed as he took her in. Chrissy looked a little too long at him. The suit was tailored to fit his incredibly toned body. She knew he could afford the lavish garment. A roguish glint flickered in his eye as his eyes caught on her partially transparent top. She blushed knowing she looked a fright.

  “What are you doing here?” she tried to sound indignant, but it just came out whiney.

  Max pushed off the wall and walked toward her. “I have business with Top Dog today. Is today your first day, Chrissy?”

  “Yes. So…uhm…I can’t talk.”

  She walked briskly over to the bank of elevators. The sound of her heels echoed through the crowded lobby. Pushing Max out of mind, she focused on the instructions Jeremiah had given to her. She needed to go to the fifty-second floor and ask for Jane Foster. He had told her that she’d take things from there.

  “What floor are you going to?” Max sidled up next to her.

  “Fifty-second.” It took all of her effort to focus on the elevator. If her eyes had been lasers, they would have bored a hole into the elevator.

  “Huh. Guess we will be going together. That’s where I am headed.”

  She glanced at him. Worst mistake ever. He watched her with a smirk. She couldn’t decide if she wanted to smack the smirk off his face or kiss it off. Both were viable options. Before she could do either, however, the elevator opened allowing her to get away from the infuriatingly handsome man.

  Positioning herself into the corner, she let out a sigh of relief. Her relief was short lived. Max and the woman from the bathroom followed her into the confined space. Max stood close enough to feel the heat radiating off of his body. When the doors shut, she noticed the only button lit was for the fifty-second floor. That meant the woman was probably one of her co-workers.

  Dread filled her veins. She never liked firsts. Whether it was school, work, dates, kisses…well the last one was a toss-up. Chrissy found herself lost in thought when she felt a hand on her ass. She jumped, turned and slapped Max across the face.

  “How dare you!” she yelled.

  Max looked stunned.

  “Why would you think you could grab my ass? You are such an egotistical bastard.”

  Rubbing his cheek, Max said, “I was trying to help.”

  “Help with what? My ass did not need your help with anything.” Chrissy glared daggers at him.

  With the hand not rubbing his cheek, he dangled a piece of toilet paper. Toilet paper that must have got stuck on her skirt when she fell. Mortification burned in her veins. She turned away and tried desperately to melt into the wall of the elevator. M
ax was trying to be a nice guy for once.

  Dammit!

  “I’m sorry,” Chrissy said softly.

  Max smiled. “Don’t worry. My grandmother smacks me upside the head harder than that. I figure that was just a love tap.”

  She snapped her head toward him seeing that sexy smile that was marred with a handprint.

  Finally, the elevator arrived at their floor. The snooty woman marched out turning down a long hallway toward the offices. Chrissy and Max walked up to a large white desk. A woman who looked to be in her forties sat with a headset on. She talked animatedly about some project. When she saw them approach, she completed her conversation and looked at the pair of them.

  Ignoring Chrissy, she said, “Good Morning, Mr. Hamilton. Mr. Wilstead is just finishing up with a call. He will be with you shortly. You can have a seat.” She gestured toward a few stylish but uncomfortable looking chairs.

  “Thank you, Patty.”

  The woman blushed as the full Max Hamilton smile blazed toward her. She watched as Max walked to the seating area. Clearly, she was hypnotized by his toned ass.

  Clearing her throat, Chrissy said, “I’m looking for Jane Foster.”

  Patty blinked. Apparently, she’d forgotten someone else was standing there. “Oh. Uhm. You must be Chrissy Benson. Let me call over to Ms. Foster.”

  Chrissy waited while she called the woman. Not wanting to eavesdrop, she gazed around the lobby area. It had a very sterile feel. White walls, white tiled floors, white ceiling and even the desk chairs were white. After living with a child for six years, all she could think about was the possible stains that could mar the pure white.

  “Ms. Foster will see you. She is the third office on the right. Be sure to knock before entering. Though she knows you are coming she is a stickler for protocol.”

  “Thank you, Patty.” Chrissy smiled.

  “It’s Patricia. The only person who calls me Patty is Max.” Her demeanor became frosty, and she answered a phone call before Chrissy could say anything more.

  Chrissy straightened her jacket and purse. For a moment, her offending coffee mug entered her mind. She didn’t have a clue where that had gone. With a deep breath she strode down the hall.

  “Good luck,” Max said as she passed.

  She ignored him and kept her focus on the hallway. When she stepped in front of the door, she plastered a smile on her face, then knocked.

  “Come in,” A melodic voice floated through the closed door.

  Stepping inside, Chrissy was immediately blinded. The sun shone through the entire back wall of the office. Holding her hand up she shielded her eyes walking toward what looked like a desk. What she didn’t see was the small table that protruded away from a seating area to her right. When she began striding toward the desk her shin caught the corner, tripping her. In a less than smooth move, she righted herself before she could fall. Her shin screamed at her, but she swallowed the pain with only a slight grimace.

  The dots in her vision finally faded as she approached the desk. Stretching her hand out, Chrissy said, “Hello, Ms. Foster. I am Chrissy Benson.”

  A familiar disdainful look was plastered on the woman’s face. Jane Foster was the woman from the bathroom. The woman who saw her slap Max Hamilton.

  Chapter 12

  A Sweet Old Man for the Win

  “Please have a seat, Ms. Benson.” Jane Foster’s voice turned her blood to ice.

  Chrissy attempted to hide her embarrassment by avoiding eye contact and sat in the chair directly across from her. She felt the woman’s stare on her. It felt like knives poking into her skin. With a shaky smile, she looked up.

  “It is a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Foster.” Her voice sounded meek.

  “Yes, I’m sure it is. Let me be frank with you, Ms. Benson. This was not my idea. I don’t want or need an intern. Jeremiah happens to be very persuasive.” A smile tilted her lips.

  Chrissy’s eyes widened wondering what Jeremiah did to persuade the ice queen. “I am grateful for anything you are willing to teach me.”

  “I’m sure you are. However, you will not be learning what you think you will be learning. You will be doing any menial tasks I want. You won’t get to spend time on a set. You won’t be talking with stars. You won’t get anything out of this that I don’t want you to. Do you understand?”

  Chrissy nodded. Her heart was in her throat. If she didn’t get any real experience out of the internship, then her time in California would have been for nothing.

  “You can go now. I will contact you when I need something.”

  Nodding again, she stood from the seat then remembered she had nowhere to go. “Uhm, Ms. Foster? Where am I supposed to go now?”

  Jane Foster had already picked up her phone ready to dial a number. She glared at Chrissy as if she were a bug under a microscope. “I don’t care. Just get out of my office.”

  Chrissy grabbed her purse and hustled out of the office. Tears burned her eyes. She wiped them away before they could fall. She would not cry on her first day. With her shoulders back, she walked back to the reception area.

  Max was gone. Thank God something was going her way. She approached the desk where Patricia was seated. Pasting a smile back on her face she waited for her to finish her call.

  “Yes?” Patricia asked.

  “Uh, hi, again. Ms. Foster asked that I come to you to find out where I needed to go.” It was a small fib but who cared.

  “How would I know?”

  “I don’t know.”

  With an exasperated sigh, Patricia said, “Just sit over there.”

  Chrissy nodded and sat in the same chair Max had lounged in earlier. She watched as Patricia called someone, looked at her, then started laughing. That woman had called her friends to gossip. What a bitch. Chrissy sat with her hands in her lap trying to be patient. When Patricia rose from her desk, she rose also thinking she’d finally figured out where she belonged.

  “What?” Patricia asked.

  “Oh. Uhm…I thought you’d finally found out where I am supposed to go.”

  “No. That is not my job or concern. Please have a seat.” Patricia started to walk away but stopped and turned toward her. “Don’t steal anything. There are cameras everywhere.”

  Chrissy sat back down. She felt her lip begin to quiver. Taking a few deep breaths didn’t help. A tear rolled down her cheek. Quickly, she rummaged through her purse looking for a tissue. When a hand holding a handkerchief appeared before her, she blinked.

  “Here you go,” the older gentleman said.

  Taking the offered handkerchief, she dabbed at her wet cheek then handed it back to him. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome, dear. Now, tell me what has you so upset.”

  The gentleman took a seat next to her. He had a gentle smile that radiated warmth and relaxed her. She stared at his startling blue eyes ringed with wrinkles from years of smiling. His salt and pepper gray hair was slicked back with what she assumed was some pomade. The suit he wore indicated that he worked at Top Dog and did very well for himself. But it was his tie that finally brought a smile to her face. The tie had unicorns prancing around shooting rainbows out of their butts.

  He looked down at what made her smile and said, “My granddaughter got me this tie. She is in her unicorn phase.”

  “I understand that. My daughter went through that phase last year. I’m hoping it doesn’t return anytime soon. We have more things with unicorns on them than without them.”

  “My daughter has the same complaint. I don’t mind, though. If Alexa gives me a unicorn tie, you bet your sweet bananas I will wear that tie with pride.” He smiled at Chrissy. “Now, tell me what has got you down.”

  Looking around the empty reception area she shrugged. What did she have to lose telling this complete stranger how her life was going down the toilet? That was exactly what she did. She started in Grandin and landed with her sitting in that chair for two hours.

  “Two hours?” he asked.


  “Yes. Apparently, no one knows what to do with me. I wonder if this company has ever had any interns before.”

  “Trust me. We have. This is very upsetting. I apologize that you have had to go through all of this.” He tapped her leg affectionately.

  “It’s ok. It seems that’s just how my life is going right now.”

  “We will see about that.” He stood and turned to leave but before he could go a young man with Max walked toward them.

  “James! What wonderful timing. Come over here and meet this wonderful young woman.” He pointed to Chrissy.

  “Chrissy? Why are you out here?” Max asked.

  “Long story.” She shrugged and held her hand out to the new man. “Chrissy Benson.”

  “James Mathewson. Nice to meet you.” He turned toward the older gentleman. “What’s going on, Grandpa?”

  “Well, Chrissy here is going to be our new intern. I want her to work with you and me. She is going to learn the ins and outs of this business.” He leaned toward Chrissy and said, “Not just the engineering part.”

  “What have you been up to?” James quirked a smile.

  “That horrible woman your father hired was completely wretched to her. I want to prove to her that everyone that works here isn’t a raging bitch.”

  “Grandpa!”

  “Well, she is. That is why your father likes her so much and is sleeping with her. Your father thinks I’m old and senile. I see a lot more than people give me credit.”

  “Yeah, you do, Grandpa.” James turned toward her. “Let me finish up with Max here and we will get you settled.”

  “That sounds great.” Chrissy turned toward James’ grandpa. “Thank you so much. You didn’t have to do all of this.”

  “Believe me, dear, I did. No matter what people think I’m still the owner of this dump.” He smiled.

  “Owner?” she croaked out.

  “Oh, yes. I’m sorry that I was remiss in telling you that. I am Bill Mathewson, CEO.” He held out his hand for her to shake.