Playing in SECRET (Corrigan & Co. Book 9)

by Crystal Perkins

  “My fiancé and I need something bigger,” she insists, grabbing my arm, and pulling me towards her.

  I hear a gasp, and know it’s Audrey. Misha tries to hold onto me, but I pull away, and turn. I see Audrey moving through the crowd towards the door, and I start to go after her. “Where do you think you’re going?” Misha asks, gripping me like her life depends on it.

  I pull free and look her in the eye. “You just lied to hurt the woman I love, and now I’m going after her to remind her what a liar you are.”

  “What will Jeanne think?”

  “Jeanne and I both want you gone tomorrow.”

  “What? No. We’re back together.”

  “We’re nothing, Misha. Abso-fucking-lutely nothing. Now let go of me.”

  “I’ll ruin you. I’ll ruin you both.”

  “Go ahead and try,” I say as Reina nods at me. She’ll take care of Misha.

  I find Audrey outside, leaning on a short wall as she takes deep breaths. “She was lying. I’m not her fiancé. I’m not her anything.”

  “You’re living with her.”

  I close the distance between us, and turn her to face me. I cup her face with one hand, and take her hand in my other one. “I never touched her. I swear it. I even put locks on my bedroom door.”

  “I bet that went over well,” she says with a small laugh.

  I shrug. “She tried to break in once, but it didn’t work.”

  “You didn’t have to lock her out.”

  “Yes, I did. She would’ve burned the house down if she’d walked in and found me getting myself off while I moaned your name.”

  “Blake.”

  “I miss you so much, Dree. So fucking much.”

  “I miss you, too. We need to talk.”

  “Tomorrow. Unless you’ll be will the player, that is.”

  “Joel? You’re not seriously jealous of Joel. He’s like ten.”

  “He’s twenty-five. I looked it up when you walked in,” I tell her with a growl.

  “I like my men a little older.”

  “Good. I need to kiss you. Just one kiss. Please.”

  “What about Jeanne?”

  “She misses you, too. I’ve already told Misha we want her gone tomorrow.”

  She bridges the small gap between us, and kisses me softly. It’s too sweet, and too short, but I’ll take it. I’ll take anything Audrey is willing to give me. “Tomorrow. We really do need to talk.”

  “Call me when you’re ready. I’ll be waiting.”

  She nods, and then walks back into the party. I look at the way her grey dress molds to her perfect hourglass shape, and my mouth waters. She’s covered, but I know what’s underneath. I’ve tasted every inch of that skin, and I can’t wait to do it again. Tomorrow can’t come soon enough.

  * * *

  Audrey

  Last night was exhausting. I love talking to people, but I just wanted to go home and take off the high heels and the tight dress, before slipping into a nice, warm bath. I’ve been super tired lately, but I think it’s just stress. I’m getting a check-up with the Society doctor today, just in case. The nurses drew some blood and had me pee in a cup this morning, and now I’m back for my results.

  “Hi, Audrey,” Kendrick says as he walks into the exam room. He’s our new doctor and looks like an African prince. The women who work for Corrigan & Co. practically swoon when he walks into the employee cafeteria. He’s nice, but a little too formal for my tastes.

  “Did you get my test results back?”

  “Yes. It’s not stress, Audrey.”

  “No? Is something wrong?”

  “That depends on how you look at it, I guess.”

  “Kendrick, you know I’m a scientist, but I don’t need a clinical analysis right now. You just need to spit it out.”

  “You’re pregnant, Audrey.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I found it odd as well, seeing as you’re all on the super contraceptive you created. Well, all of you except for Tegan, but she wants to get pregnant soon.”

  “I’m getting ready to test something new, so I’m not on it,” I tell him, my voice shaking a little. “We used condoms.”

  “As you said, Audrey, you’re a scientist. You know condoms aren’t 100% guaranteed protection. Do you want me to test you for STDs as well, just in case?”

  “No. He said he was clean, and I believe him. I still made him wear a condom, which seems stupid now.” I could’ve felt Blake without one, and yeah, I may not have survived, but what a way to go.

  “It’s always good to be protected, even if the protection fails.”

  “Kendrick, my dear, you really need to loosen up.”

  “I hear that a lot.”

  “I’m sure you do.”

  “Medicine is very serious. Reina Corrigan brought me here because I’m the best, and she needs me to take care of all of you. I don’t want to let her down.”

  “You won’t. You’re too much of a perfectionist for that to happen. Just try to have a little fun. We’ll all take you out if you want. Unless I need to be resting or something.”

  “I’d like to be taken out, I think, as long as the women are there. I saw what the men did to Brayden when he went out with them, and he was a king.”

  “He survived.”

  “Yes, well, I prefer to do more than just survive. Enough about that, you asked about resting. I don’t think that will be necessary. You will, of course, need to be removed from the mission rotation, but you can still be active locally while supporting your friends. I’m going to prescribe you some prenatal vitamins, and have you come in weekly instead of monthly, just so we can monitor you more closely. Women much older than you have babies every day, but yours will still be considered a high-risk pregnancy. I want you to call me if you feel anything out of the ordinary, or if you just have a question.”

  “You’ll be my doctor for the pregnancy?”

  “Yes, unless you would like someone else. Maybe someone less formal. Or a female.”

  “Kenny, this is the Society you’re working for. I wouldn’t be here if I had a problem with a doctor of any gender—or species. I’ll see you next week.”

  “Species? The alien rumor is true?”

  “If I told you, you wouldn’t have plausible deniability,” I tell him with a straight face and watch his eyes widen before I burst out laughing. “Don’t believe everything you hear about us.”

  He hands me my prescription and then walks out. I change back into my dress, and look at myself on the mirror. The teal green fabric crosses over the top, highlighting my breasts, and waist before flowing loose past my knees. I pull the loose fabric tight, and look at all of me, trying to see if there’s a change. I know it’s early, but now that I know a little human is growing inside of me, I can’t wait to see how my body will change.

  My life is going to change, and not just with the Society. I have to tell Blake—and Jeanne. I don’t know how either will react. Whatever happens, I’m keeping my child. I just really hope that Blake will want to be with me, and that Jeanne will be excited. I can deal with the opposite of each happening, but I want my happy ending. It’s long overdue, and I know I deserve it.

  Chapter 13

  Audrey

  I hear a commotion as I get off the elevator after filling my prescription in the pharmacy downstairs. It sounds like it’s coming from the reception area of the Foundation, and I pull out my gun as I hurry down the hall. Faith joins me, and we share a nod.

  “Where is that home wrecking bitch?” I hear Misha say as I round the corner. I put my gun away, and sigh.

  “Are you referring to me?”

  She turns to sneer at me. “Who else is my fiancé sleeping with?”

  “He’s not your fiancé, Mom.” Jeanne looks like she wants the floor to just suck her up, and I don’t blame her.

  “And I’m not sleeping with him.”

  “That’s not what people will think when they see this picture.”

>   She holds up her phone, showing me a shot of Blake and me right before we kissed from last night. Our eyes are half closed, and honestly, I want a copy of the picture for myself. Our conversation, and the kiss, only lasted a few minutes, so I don’t know how someone managed to catch it just in time. And then it dawns on me. “You paid someone to follow him.”

  “Of course I did. He has some sick fascination with you, and I’m not going to let it ruin our relationship.”

  “From what I understand, there is no relationship to ruin. You were asked to move out today, I believe.”

  “She was,” Jeanne says.

  “Shut up, Jeanne. You’re supposed to be helping me get your dad back.”

  “I tried that already.”

  “No, you fucked it up already. Now, I’m going to fix it.”

  “What’s going on Jeanne?” I ask, as the other Society women join us in the lobby.

  “Don’t answer her.”

  “She’s the one who paid for the kidnappers. It wasn’t my dad’s money I used. I got it from her and put it in my account.”

  “Shut. Up!”

  I ignore Misha, and walk to Jeanne. “Did you want your parents back together?”

  “I thought I did, but I don’t. I’m sorry, Audrey. My dad misses you so much. I miss you, too. I know we only had a few days together, but you’re the mom I’d choose if I could.”

  “What did you say, you little bitch?”

  I start to step in front of her, but then Reina’s in front of both of us. “You need to leave now, while you can still walk out on your own.”

  “I’ll leave after you give me a contract to sign. I want to be the face of this foundation. I’ve wanted it for years, but you wouldn’t give it to me, because of her. Funny how now you’ll have to give it to me, in order to protect her image.”

  “We don’t have one ‘face’ of the Foundation. We feature several women every year, both models and everyday people.”

  “So change it,” she says with a shrug.

  “No.”

  “I will release this picture. Everyone saw Blake and I together last night, and they saw her with that baseball player. Blake is a guy, so no one will give him a hard time. She’ll be raked over the coals, though, and you know it.”

  “Can I see that?” Ainsley asks, and then touches her own phone to Misha’s. “Oops, it looks like it’s gone.”

  She looks down at her phone, and then back at Ainsley. “I don’t know what you did, but I have it in my email.”

  “Do you?”

  She clicks and scrolls for almost a minute, and then makes a call. “Hi. I can’t seem to find the picture you sent me…sure, I’ll wait…what do you mean it’s gone…you didn’t save it on your phone…that’s gone, too…how? I don’t know either.”

  “It’s so annoying when pictures just disappear like that,” Ainsley says, tapping her chin with her phone.

  “Who are you people?” Misha asks, backing up towards the door and looking scared. As she should.

  “No one you want to mess with,” Reina tells her. “You should pack your things and get out of town. I don’t care where you go, but if you try to smear Audrey’s name in any way, we will come for you.”

  “Come on Jeanne, let’s go.”

  “I don’t want to go with you.”

  “I can’t leave you here with them.”

  “Jeanne is perfectly safe. No one here would hurt her,” I say, and move to put my hands on her shoulders.

  “Whatever. Just leave me alone.”

  She practically runs into the elevator Ainsley has waiting for her as Jeanne’s shoulders shake beneath my hands. I turn her towards me and hug her tight as she sobs into my chest. “I’m sorry, Jeanne.”

  “Why? Because my Mom’s a bitch? You’ve known that for years.”

  “Yes, but I’d hoped she wouldn’t be that way with you.”

  “I’m basically you, just younger. Too nerdy for her.”

  “Well, look at Audrey now. Do you know how many women would love to be her?” Faith asks.

  “Let’s get back to work ladies. Let us know if you need anything, Aud,” Reina says.

  “I’ll email you the pic. I figured you might want a copy, so I saved it on my phone,” Ainsley tells me.

  “Thanks,” I tell her with a smile.

  “I’m going to call all of my designer friends, as well as Anna Wintour, and get Misha fired. No one messes with you on my watch, Aud.”

  “You don’t have to do that, Stella.”

  “Can you do that? Really?” Jeanne asks.

  “I can, but I won’t if it upsets you.”

  “No. I mean, I love my mom, but she needs to be punished. I still don’t get to use any electronics because of what I did, but now you know my mom was in on it, too.”

  “It sounds like she was more the mastermind of it all. You know you need to tell your dad, right?” I ask.

  “It was her idea. I planned on telling him today when she left. I should have said something sooner, but she convinced me we’d be a happy family. Then she moved in and I realized she just wanted my dad and her career, not me. It’s never about me.”

  “Maybe not with her, but your dad will always put you first.”

  “So did you.”

  “That wasn’t entirely unselfish on my part.”

  “Huh?”

  “I’ll explain after you call your dad. You can use the phone in my office.”

  “I could use your cell phone.”

  “I think you’re a great kid, but I don’t entirely trust you. I’m sorry to say it, but that’s the way it is. My cell phone has some sensitive information on it.”

  “I understand,” she says with a sigh. “Doesn’t your office have sensitive information?”

  “The one in my lab does,” I tell her with a smile, “but we’re going into my public office. The one people come to for PR stuff regarding the Corrigan & Co. Foundation.”

  “Oh,” she tells me, looking disappointed.

  “I’ll take you to my lab. One day, not today, but maybe soon.”

  “Okay. I promise you can trust me.”

  I just smile at her. I know she’s sorry for what she did, but she put all of us in danger with her little stunts. Misha may have been pulling the strings, but Jeanne is old enough to know better. She’s learning her lesson, but I can’t trust our secrets with her yet. My friends and I rely on each other for protection, and I won’t betray their trust in me.

  * * *

  Blake

  “Looking great everyone, why don’t you take a quick break,” I tell the students as they finish with the current scene.

  My phone has just lit up with a call from the Corrigan & Company Foundation, and I need to answer it. “Dree?”

  “No, Dad, it’s me.”

  “Oh hey, baby. Are you visiting Audrey?”

  “Kind of.”

  “Who drove you there?” I ask, thinking that should’ve been my first question once my lust-addled brain realized I wasn’t talking to Audrey.

  “Mom.”

  Fuck. There is no way any scenario involving Misha and the Foundation is going to turn out to be a good situation. I try to sound calm as I ask my next question. “Why was your mother there?”

  “She was trying to blackmail Reina into hiring her by using a picture of you and Audrey when you were about to kiss last night.”

  Motherfucking bitch. “Is Audrey okay?”

  “Oh yeah. Ainsley pulled the picture from Mom’s phone and somehow also deleted it from her email and the guy who took the picture’s email and computer, too. I need her to teach me that.”

  “No you don’t. Are you sure Audrey’s okay?”

  “Yes, but…um…there’s something else I need to tell you.”

  What now? I mean, come on. “I’m listening.”

  “I wanted to tell you when we first got here, but you told me you didn’t want to talk about Mom, and then I chickened out.”

  “What is
it, Jeanne?”

  “Mom’s the one who paid for the kidnappers. It was her money, not yours that I used.”

  I close my eyes and mentally count to ten before I speak again. “Your mother set this whole thing up? The kidnapping attempts, and moving back in?”

  “Yes. She promised me it’d be different this time. She said she loved me, and missed you. I thought she meant it. I’m sorry.”

  “Oh, baby. I’m sorry, too. She knows just what to say in order to get what she wants from most people. I wish you’d come to me.”

  I hear her start to cry, and then Audrey’s on the phone. “Don’t punish her any more, okay? She knows she messed up, but she did it because she loves you and Misha.”

  “I know. I’m not going to do anything to her. Misha, on the other hand, needs to pay.”

  “Stella’s already calling the designers she knows, and the fashion editors. Misha won’t get any work.”

  “Damn. I’m glad I’m not on your bad side. I’m not, am I?”

  “At the moment, no.”

  “Okay, good.” I look around and make sure no kids are near me for this next part. “I would like to be naughty, though. Think you’d like to come by for dinner and a sleepover?”

  “I think I can fit you into my schedule. I need to talk to you about something anyway.”

  “Good or bad?”

  “I think it’s good.”

  “Then I can’t wait.”

  “Do you want to pick up Jeanne, or should I just bring her with me?”

  “If you could bring her, that would be great. I’ve still got a couple hours of work here.”

  “Sure. I have a little more work to get done here, too.”

  “You should have her help you. Not with anything electronic, of course. But she can do whatever grunt work you can find for her.”

  “I think she’s had a hard enough day. I’ll take her to the cafeteria for a snack, and then she can hang out with Alex. She might have something she needs help with.”

  “I would like it if she did. Jeanne needs to be useful. It’ll be good for her. And thank you for taking care of her. I know you’ll always look out for my child.”

  “I will.”

  I have an extra spring in my step as I head back onto the stage. “Let’s take on the next scene everyone.”