"Really." His gray eyebrows raised. "How convenient." Mr. Coffee turned and took his seat on the other side of the courtroom.
Dani couldn't believe she'd blurted out her married name so naturally. It was almost as if she said it every day. What an odd response?
"How convenient?"
Did he mean because of her condition which was obvious to anyone who looked at her?
Again, the door squeaked open, causing Dani to gasp. Adrian was there. He smiled then crossed the room to sit beside her.
"What are you doing here?" she blurted out.
"Where's your attorney?" Adrian whispered.
"He hasn't shown up yet. Kevin is always late. What are you doing here?"
"I came for a couple of reasons." Adrian took her hand in his. "The first is that I wanted to be with you and the second--"
Finally Kevin Cook arrived. Dani stood and picked up the black cases of sketches. "Wish me luck," she said to Adrian.
"I do. But, Dani I need to tell you something."
"It'll have to wait. Gotta go." She met Kevin in the aisle where they both proceeded to the front of the room.
"Coffee verses Kapur," the clerk called.
"Damn," Adrian swore. He should have told her before he went to New York.
He wasn't sure how Dani was going to take the news that she was actually working for him. And he was damned sure that she was going to be mad as hell, thinking the worst. Of course, she'd think that she hadn't gotten the job because of her ability, but preferential treatment, which wasn't true. He had accomplished the one thing he'd set out to do. He had gotten to know Dani on his own terms without money being involved. The fact that she’d done a good job for him was just another bonus.
He still wasn't sure how Dani felt about him. She hadn't come out and said she loved him, but Adrian felt that what they had was a good beginning.
Now with each passing day, he knew with more certainty that Dani wasn't nothing like his first wife. In contrast to her, Dani was sincere and caring.
Adrian drew in a long deep breath. He'd done what he said he wasn't going to do ... get involved with another woman. But she'd had him hooked by the second day, though he had been reluctant to admit the fact. He stared at her now, her back straight, head held high, and her enormous tummy, he knew he loved this woman more than he'd ever loved anything in his life. He had no intentions of this being a marriage of convenience forever.
Kevin leaned over to Dani. "Separate your sketches." He patted her hand. "Don't worry. We have a good chance. I think."
The judge cleared this throat. "Coffee Advertising is suing Kapur Associates for conflict of interest and is seeking a half-a million dollars."
"What! That's absurd!" Dani blurted out without thinking.
The gavel hit the piece of wood on the judge's desk, bouncing the block up in the air, he'd hit it so hard. “I don't like outbursts in my courtroom. If I have to warn you again, I'll fine you, Miss. Kapur." He drew his shaggy brown eyebrows together and looked over a pair of small reading glasses perched on the end of his nose. Dani blushed. "How does your client plead?" The judge continued.
"Not guilty, your honor."
Dani listened to Coffee's lawyer explain how she took the drawings from her old job with the intention of landing the amphitheater account, and that she willfully wheeled and dealed to sneak the account out from under Coffee Advertising's nose.
The insults were bad enough, but when the clerk called Adrian Massimino to the stand, Dani became angry.
Wondering how he'd gotten in the middle of her fight, she watched as he was sworn in. If Coffee Advertising tried to slander him in any way, they would have a fight on their hands. Coffee's fight was with her, not her husband.
"Mr. Massimino can you tell us what your occupation is?"
Dani wondered what difference it made to anyone where he worked unless they were trying to prove his character. Her husband might be merely a construction worker, but he was respectable. Dani could see Adrian was embarrassed because it was taking him much too long to answer.
"Do I need to ask the question again?" Coffee's attorney asked.
"No. I am the CEO of Mass Corporation."
"What!" Dani came to her feet, knocking her chair over with a loud bang.
"Two hundred and fifty dollars, Miss Kapur. I warned you." The judge hit the desk again.
Kevin righted her chair, and Dani slumped back down into it. What had happened to the construction worker? Had Adrian just said he was the head of Mass? But he hadn't been at the meeting when she went there. And the Vice President, Marty whats-his-name, had only introduced Adrian as a friend. What kind of game was this?
"As the head of the Mass Corporation, did Kapur Associates approach you about advertising for your amphitheater?"
"No. She did not."
"Are you sure, Mr. Massimino? Perhaps, I don't understand." The lawyer rubbed his chin. "She does have your account, doesn't she?"
"Yes, but she didn't meet with me. Dani met with my Vice President, and Coffee Advertising presented their plan to me."
"And you were impressed with Miss Kapur's work?"
"Yes, I was. Both companies had a good layout, but I wouldn't have picked Kapur Associates unless I thought she had done the best job. And to set the record straight, she is no longer Kapur--my wife's name is Massimino."
"Really. Did you marry your wife before you hired her or afterwards?"
Adrian gripped the side of the chair. He didn't like the way this SOB made their marriage sound. However, if he got up and punched the man out like he'd like to, he would probably end up in jail and of little use to anyone.
"I married my wife after I made the decision."
"No more questions."
Kevin stood and picked up a drawing. "Can you tell me which proposal you bought?"
"The one on your left."
"Did you ever see the other set of sketches?"
"No. I didn't."
"Thank you. No more questions."
"Next we'd like to call Danielle Kapur Massimino to the stand."
Dani's legs shook when she stood to walk to the stand. She felt numb and stupid for believing Adrian was a bum, but mostly she wanted to cry. Instead, she placed her shaking hand on the Bible.
"Do you, Danielle Massimino swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"
"I do."
Kevin leaned on the railing and looked at her. "Did you take your drawings for the amphitheater when you left Coffee Advertising?"
"Yes, I did."
"Why did you leave Coffee Advertising?"
"I used to date Steven Coffee, and when we broke up, it became difficult to work for his father. I had always wanted to start my own agency, so I took a chance."
"Did you use the drawings that you'd drawn up while you were with Coffee to win over Mass Corporation?"
"No, I didn't. I drew up a completely different advertising campaign, an even better idea than my first one."
"And did you sign a non-compete agreement with Coffee Advertising?"
"I did not."
"Thank you."
Coffee's attorney approached. "You're telling me Miss K--Massimino, that you didn't use any of the material that you developed at Coffee Advertising?"
"That's right."
"Come now. Advertising must be very easy if you can just whip up new drawings so good, I might add, that you can land a big account on the first try."
"I am good. What can I say?" Dani realized she sounded flippant. "It isn't easy to plan an advertising proposal, but I had plenty of time to think up something new since I wasn't working at full capacity at first."
"So why did you take the original drawings?"
"They were mine and unfinished."
"No, Mrs. Massimino. They were the property of your employer." The lawyer stood a moment rubbing his chin as he thought. "You mean to tell me that you didn't purposely go after the account just to get even with Mr. Coffee because
his son jilted you?"
"I'm the one who broke up with Steven. Revenge wasn't on my mind."
"Well, Mrs. Massimino, I find that hard to believe." The lawyer turned and walked away.
"Truth is always harder to believe than fiction," Dani said, then watched the judge frown, gavel in hand.
"You may step down, Mrs. Massimino. Recess for fifteen minutes."
Dani walked out into the lobby to the first restroom. She never knew a woman could pee so much. After she washed her hands she realized she was trembling. Dani guessed she had plenty of reason – it wasn’t everyday she was on trial and it wasn’t everyday she found out her husband wasn’t who she thought.
Dani walked back out into the lobby where Adrian stood waiting for her.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I have reasons, but this isn't the place to discuss them."
"Well, I hope you've enjoyed laughing at me behind my back!"
Adrian grabbed both arms. It wasn't like that. I never laughed at you, Dani."
"I'm not sure I can believe anything you tell me anymore."
Kevin joined them. "It's good to see you again." Kevin shook Adrian's hand. "Keep your fingers crossed. It's time to go back."
Minutes ticked away before the judge finally spoke. "This case is a little unusual. Kapur Associates went after the same account as Coffee Advertising, but with a different set of drawings. On the other hand, Coffee Advertising had plenty of time to make new drawings and win the account. But Kapur Associates first learned of the account while she was working for Coffee Advertising. Therefore, I do think that Coffee Advertising is due compensation. I fine, Kapur Associates one half of said income from the Mass account.
"Case closed!" The gavel hit the desk.
Dani really didn't think it was fair, but she thankfully kept her mouth shut.
"Sorry, Dani," Kevin said while he stuffed the papers back in his briefcase. "Anything's better than the half a million they wanted."
"I guess so."
"Why didn't you tell me you were married to the head of the company?" Kevin asked.
"Because I didn't know until a few minutes ago."
"You're kidding."
She turned and saw Adrian say something to Mr. Coffee, whose face then turned bright red. When she reached her husband she couldn't help asking, "What did you say to him?"
"I simply told him it wouldn't be worth his time to seek any of my business in the future."
"Thank you, Adrian, but I can fight my own battles."
"I can help, too."
She stared at him for a long moment, realizing she really didn't know the real Adrian Massimino, only someone she had dreamed up in her mind. Or, maybe, she made him into the person she wanted him to be. She sighed. "Let's go home," Dani said, then bent and grabbed her side.
"What's wrong?" Adrian reached out for her.
"Nothing. The baby just moved the wrong way."
Adrian put his arm around her and they left the courthouse. Drained of all emotion, Dani didn't have the energy to protest.
She thought about Adrian all the way home. He was rich. Not just rich, he was very rich. Steven had been rich, and he turned out to be a very sorry person. Would Adrian be the same way?
Yet, Adrian didn't act like Steven. Still, he hadn't been truthful with her, either. And she was getting pretty steamed about the subject. The more she thought about it, the madder she got.
By the time they reached the apartment, her temper had reached the boiling point, and she started in on him as soon as the door shut.
"Why did you let me make an ass out of myself? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I didn't want you to look at me with dollar signs in your eyes."
"You sure have a lot of faith in me,” Dani shot back, the bitterness evident. Now, I get why you suggested the prenuptial agreement." She turned and went into the kitchen.
"What a minute." He followed. The prenuptial was your idea. I think you had your trust fund in mind."
"How did you know about that?" She cut her eyes at him while pouring herself a glass of water.
"Rest assured it wasn't from you, sweetheart. You never bothered to mention that little fact to me, either. Maybe, I'm the one that should feel used."
"It wasn't like that!" She slammed the plastic cup on the counter and some of the liquid splashed out. "Getting married just solved that problem, but you're changing the subject. The subject was you."
"Dani, if you knew how many bad affairs I'd had--not to mention a bad marriage." He ran a hand through his hair. "All the problems, every one of them, seemed to be because of my money. Money makes people do funny things. Some people will do anything to get it."
"I don't want your money. And I'm not like the other women."
He leaned back against the counter and gazed at her, trying to telegraph his longing to her. "I know that now. But you did use me for money, didn't you?"
She wanted to deny what he said, but she couldn't. "Well, yes, in a way. Why didn't you trust me before?"
"I guess my ex-wife left scars that ran deeper than even I imagined."
"Yet, you married me. Why?"
"Because of the baby." Adrian regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth, realizing how it sounded.
A look of hurt entered Dani's eyes, then she softly said. "I'm tired, Adrian. I'm going to bed."
Feeling the gap between them widening, he watched her walk away from him. He knew he should do or say something, but maybe if he just gave her a few days she'd come around. Maybe.
Chapter Sixteen
Adrian had been wrong not to talk everything out that first night. now Dani had withdrawn from him and the gap between them seemed to grow bigger every day.
An icy silence stood like a brick wall between them. The only time Dani let the wall down was when they slept. No matter how far across the bed she started out, by morning she was in his arms, snuggled next to him.
They had polite conversations at dinner, but Adrian could do nothing to get the dull look out of her eyes. And she refused to talk about his business. It was as if she resented his wealth. That, he had to admit, was a definite switch. Their conversations now consisted entirely of the baby. It seemed to him, Dani had convinced herself that the only reason he stayed was because of the baby.
That might have been true once, but not now. Thought over the last few years Adrian hadn’t been able to keep his mind on one woman, but Dani had changed all that.
She had changed his entire way of thinking about everything. In fact, she seemed to be the only thing he did think about.
Finally, Adrian came upon an idea which he thought would bring his wife out of her shell. He brought the subject up at dinner.
"I spoke with your doctor today."
"Why?"
"The finishing touches have been made on the beach house, and I thought you might like to fly with me to Sea Horse Island to see what they've done. I know Angus and Nettie would like to see you. I called them yesterday."
Dani's face automatically brightened. "Yes, I would."
"Good. The doctor said that since we'll be flying on my private jet, he didn't think it would hurt the baby. It will only be a short trip."
Dani slid back from the table. "When do we leave?"
"First thing tomorrow morning. You'd better pack a few things tonight."
Dani wasted no time following up on his suggestion. She couldn't have been happier getting away from the apartment and the four walls that seemed to be closing in on her. She had been so depressed these last few weeks all she wanted to do was sit and cry. Pathetic.
She knew she wasn't being fair to Adrian, but he hadn't exactly been fair with her either. She was at a loss to fix what was wrong between them. Perhaps, she was just plan afraid. She loved Adrian, but she didn't want to fall into the same trap twice. With Steven, she'd been so short-sighted that she'd let the man walk all over her. And, she never wanted that again.
She wanted to be an equa
l partner in her marriage. How could she feel equal with a millionaire? She wasn't really punishing him or at least she didn’t think she was--more like she was protecting herself.
At night bad dreams would wake her. Terrible dreams of Adrian walking out and leaving her with the baby to raise all alone. Panic would overwhelm her so much that she'd have to sit up and wait for her heart to stop racing. Then, despite how she felt, she'd snuggle next to her husband, and that empty feeling would go away. Until the next night when it would start all over again.
Dani knew her lack of sleep and growing panic was making her irritable, and she wouldn't blame Adrian if he ran out the door and never looked back. She wanted to stop her roller coaster of emotions but seemed helpless to do so. Her hormones didn’t exactly help keep her on an even keel, either.
She pulled out a small overnight bag. Maybe a change of scenery would help them both.
It certainly couldn't hurt.
As the cab drove them right up to a sleek Boeing business jet on the tarmac, Dani couldn’t help admiring the gleaming white and silver aircraft that was large enough to seat twenty. Adrian paid the cab driver, then escorted her up the short flight of steps.
"Watch your step," he cautioned.
"This plane is yours?"
"Yes, it is. I've had to travel so much in the past, the jet seemed practical."
"So this is how you managed to get to my parents’ place so quickly?"
"That's right."
Dani sat down in the plush, royal blue seat Adrian guided her to. Unlike the uncomfortable airline seats she was accustomed to, these seats were roomy and soft. She and Adrian faced each other much like they would in a cozy living room instead of sitting side by side.
A hostess appeared with a bright smile. Would you like the usual, Mr. Massimino?"
"Yes. And bring my wife some--." He looked at Dani.
"Ginger ale," she supplied, liking the way Adrian had referred to her as his wife. It was the first time she’d actually heard him say it.
After the hostess had brought them their drinks, she left them alone and the plane taxied down the runway.
"I think it's time we talked, Dani," Adrian said, and Dani's heart fluttered as her stomach tightened. Just like in her dreams, panic set in.
September Storm Page 18
