by Marie Skye
* * *
I drove two hours back to the airport, but wasn’t able to get a flight out until the next day. I hesitantly turned my phone on. The notifications were ridiculous. 87. That’s how many times Grayson called. My mailbox was full and was no longer taking messages. I scrolled through the texts and stopped when I got to Isabella’s.
Isabella: He knows something’s up. His hearing is tomorrow at 5. Please call him before he blows up the entire city!!!
I sighed, disabled the tracking on my phone, and sent a message to Grayson.
Emmalin: I’m fine. Have a good night.
Yeah, I know it was a shitty text, but it was the safest. Before I turned my phone back off, I placed another call to Grayson’s friend Jack and told him everything I had. Jack knew where I was. We’d been planning this the moment we found out Claudia was pregnant. I set my alarm, got in bed, and prayed that this would work.
27
Emmalin
I was late getting back. By the time I arrived at the place the meeting was being held, Grayson had just walked in. While this wasn’t an actual court proceeding, it was instead a private hearing, or a mediation if you will, with just the lawyers, the arbitrator, and their clients. This is all with the hopes that this doesn’t go to trial. Grayson, wanted this dealt with as privately, and quickly, as possible. Even though there would be no jury to rule a verdict Grayson was about to be questioned like there was one.
I stood outside the door, debating if I should go in. Right when I was about to my name was called.
“Mrs. Mandrake?”
I turned and breathed a sigh of relief. It was Francisco. I rushed over to him. “I have something that can help.” I pulled out everything I had and gave him my phone, showing him all the pictures I took. We were only able to talk for maybe a minute, but in that minute, I didn’t take a single breath as I told him everything I could.
Francisco gave me a nod and ushered me in behind him, pointing to a small section in the corner of the room. Grayson was sitting across a large wooden table, with Syed by his side and Francisco joined him on his other side. Across from them, was Cuntia, and her one lawyer. Both of them were looking smug, as if this whole thing was a waste of their time. Grayson was already being questioned so he didn’t see me come in. I was, however, surprised to see Meredith, Grayson’s sister, there. She met my eye and smiled.
“What are you doing here?” I whispered.
“Support. He didn’t think you’d show.”
My heart instantly plummeted. “I would’ve.”
She took my hand in hers. “I know this is hard for you, for the both of you, but he loves you.”
I shut my eyes briefly. “I’m trying to find a silver light in all of this, but…it’s faded. And now a baby is involved. The baby is innocent in all of this.”
“Objection, that question is an assumption not a fact. My client will not answer that.”
We both looked up at Syed. They were fighting for him today, even if the outcome wasn’t what it should be. Francisco was still looking at my phone. Suddenly his head popped up.
“Ms. Schaffer, according to your resume you went to Yale, is that correct?”
She held her head high. “That’s correct.”
“And you received very good recommendations from your professors.”
She nodded.
“When was the first time you and Mr. Mandrake met?”
She looked as if she was thinking. “It was shortly after I started. He offered me the job, and then a relationship started shortly thereafter.”
I could see Grayson’s hand clenching into a fist. “And how long would you say your relationship lasted?”
“Up until our time in Paris. We were rather discreet, obviously since he’s married.”
“And that didn’t stop you from pursuing the relationship? The fact that he was married?”
“He said he wasn’t happy and hadn’t been for a while-”
Grayson cut her off. “That’s a damn lie, and you know it!”
“Mr. Mandrake, please.” Claudia’s lawyer spoke. “This is the exact aggressiveness that my client has gone through. The sudden outbursts. They all have my client fearful for her well-being, as well as that of the unborn child. This is not the type of environment in which my client wishes to raise their child.”
“This is fucking ridiculous.” Grayson whispered something to Syed.
“There are pending allegations, but Ms. Schaefer is willing to forgo for a settlement.”
Grayson glared at Claudia. “Yes, how much to make this all go away.”
She cleared her throat. “Fifty million, plus ten thousand a month for child support.”
Grayson scoffed. “Are you serious?” He turned to his lawyers. “Is she fucking serious?”
“Based on your acceptance of the terms, my client has agreed to not release information regarding the father of the unborn child, as well as any information that Mr. Mandrake no doubt had illegally covered up about his family. Particularly the drug usage of his sister, as well as losing custody of her children. There’s also the information of the relationship surrounding Mrs. Mandrake and the now deceased Tyler Langer. I’m sure these are cases the courts would be very interested in reopening.”
Her lawyer sat back in his chair with smirk on his face. I heard Meredith take a deep breath, and I turned to her, placing my hand on hers. “He won’t let them do that. He’ll protect your children.” She nodded.
“Did I ever thank you for saving my daughter. For selflessly giving up your own life for my daughter?” she asked in a trembling voice.
I shut my eyes briefly. I couldn’t forget that day if I wanted to. Abby, and I were having a girl’s day, and Grayson and Noah were having a guy’s day. Grayson and Noah were going around town wearing capes, and Abby and I had just gotten our nails done. I felt off all day, and remember texting that to Grayson. He wanted us to come home, but Abby wanted to make one last stop first, and I couldn’t say no to her. That’s when it happened. Carson, my stepbrother, whom we thought had been killed, turns out wasn’t dead after all, showed up. He drugged and kidnapped me and brought Abby along. He threatened, that if I didn’t let him do what he wanted to me, that he would kill her. My thoughts went back to that day:
“I’ll make it easier for you. I can bring her down here, and make her watch us. I can kill her right in front of you, or I can simply fuck you. Which is it?” He pressed his erection into my back, and I felt myself dry heave. His grip on my hair tightened.
I shut my eyes.
“Do whatever you want to me,” I finally choked out.
* * *
I slowly nodded. “And I would do it again and again and again, if I had to.”
“And that’s why you’re the best person for our family. You are the most honorable, giving person I know. You risk your life for the people you love without even giving it a thought, and you never hesitate.”
She gave my hand one last squeeze, reached for her phone hitting several buttons, and stood up.
“Excuse me.”
Everyone turned around, and that’s when Grayson’s eyes landed on me. Our gazes were transfixed until Meredith spoke again.
“I’m Meredith Meyers, Grayson’s sister.” The arbitrator’s eyes narrowed, but Meredith kept talking, begging with her eyes to be allowed to continue. The arbitrator gave a slight nod, allowing her to continue. “I was a drug addict several years ago.” She nervously swallowed but kept going. “I was addicted to heroin. It got to the point where I craved it, more than I craved anything else. Food, water, love, and most of all the love for my children.” She took a wavering breath. “My brother, Grayson Mandrake, saved me, and he also protected me. Since my husband was deployed, I temporarily signed over parental rights to Grayson, and I was sent to rehab for six months. Six months I remained at a facility, with no contact to my children, other than letters and the occasional video chat. When I finally left, I wasn’t permitted to see my children for t
wo more months. I had to prove that I was capable of caring for my kids.” She took a deep breath before continuing. “During those two months, I worked hard. I worked hard to prove not only to the courts, but to my family, my husband, and my kids that I loved them and would do anything for them. Eventually I won. I’m not proud of what I did, and it’s not something I could ever forget. But, I am proud of who I’ve become now, and I’m even more grateful that my kids love me.”
She turned to Claudia and her lawyers and held up her phone. “That was live-streamed on social media. So, whatever lies you were planning on telling were interrupted.”
She grabbed her bag, gave me one last smile before heading to the door. She gave Grayson’s shoulder a squeeze before exiting.
Francisco motioned to the arbitrator. “Request to have a short recess?”
He nodded. “Five minutes.”
“Mr. Mandrake…” Grayson had already stood up and was walking to me. He looked a bit nervous as he approached. Hands moving in his pocket, as if he didn’t know what to do with his hands.
He looked around before speaking. “Can we talk? Please.”
I got up, and his hand went to the small of my back briefly before letting go. We walked toward the end of the hall, where we had a little privacy. “You came.” He studied the ground briefly before looking up. “Where were you?” I started to open my mouth to speak, but he cut me off. “And don’t say it’s not my concern. Everything you do is my concern.”
He sighed running his hand through his hair, before reaching into his pocket and pulling out an envelope. He stared at it for a long moment before speaking. “I’m losing you, aren’t I?” He said it more to himself than to me. He shut his eyes for a second before continuing. “I won’t make you stay and deal with something that’s not your problem. It’s not fair for me to ask.” He gave me the envelope, but hesitated briefly first. “You and Emersyn will be taken care of.” My eyes shot up. Grayson rarely called her by her actual name. “You can sign them and give them to one of my lawyers. They’ll take care of it.”
He looked like he wanted to say more, but instead he turned and walked away. I stared down at the envelope and slowly opened it. My hand flew to my mouth. They were divorce papers. He was giving me the divorce.
28
Grayson
At this point, I couldn’t give a flying fuck how this so-called hearing turned out. They could demand a hundred million from me, and I would gladly pay it and walk away. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered anymore when the person I loved the most wanted nothing to do with me. I didn’t blame her. Not one bit. She didn’t deserve any of this. I was almost glad she hadn’t come back into the courtroom and be subjected to all of this bullshit.
I looked around the room, wanting to get this shit over and done with, much like my life. “Shall we proceed?” I raised my hand for them to go forward.
“Ms. Schaffer, you claimed you only knew who Mr. Mandrake was when you were offered the job, is that correct.” She nodded. Francisco took out a phone, which I noticed was Emmalin’s phone. Why the fuck did he have her phone? I tried getting his attention but he ignored me.
“Ms. Schaffer, do you know an Opal Wells?”
Claudia’s expression went stone cold, and for the first time she looked nervous. “She’s my grandmother.”
Francisco nodded. “Have you had any recent contact with her?”
Claudia shifted uncomfortably. “No, we weren’t that close.”
“Hmm” Francisco looked back down at the phone, as he flipped through the screen. “You claimed you went to college at Yale, but you didn’t.” Before she could speak, Francisco did. “You lied on your resume about Yale; you went to Kansas State University. Isn’t that correct?”
She whispered to her lawyer who then spoke up to the arbitrator. “What does this have to do with the settlement?”
“I’ll get there in just a moment, if you’ll allow me to finish.”
The arbitrator looked from him to Claudia. “Proceed.”
“Thank you, sir. You said you went to Yale and graduated in the top three percent of your class. That’s quite an impressive number for someone that has never been to Yale, but who instead went to Kansas State.”
“What exactly is your point?” He turned to the arbitrator. “Who hasn’t lied on a resume, to get something better for themselves? If there was a chance for better compensation, I’m sure anyone here would do the same thing.”
Francisco ignored him and kept talking. “You also said you had no knowledge of Mr. Mandrake until you were hired.” He turned the phone around. “Can you tell me, is this your room at your grandmother’s?” Francisco peered back at the phone again. “I’m assuming it is, there’s your name and pictures of you spread around the room. An old band photo. Looks like you played the Tuba. Great instrument.” Claudia didn’t say anything as he held the phone to her. “Something I also noticed were the other pictures on your walls.” He handed the phone to her lawyer, who flipped through them, brow crinkling.
“Your wall is covered in photos of Mr. Mandrake.”
“Anyone could’ve put those there.”
“You’re absolutely right, if that were true.” He reached for a folder and held the contents to me after showing them to the opposing attorney. “Mr. Mandrake, this is a picture of you in formal attire, correct?”
I frowned. “Yes, but that’s…”
He took the folder away. “Ms. Schaffer. This is a picture of Mr. Mandrake, and it shows you standing next to him.” He pulled out another picture. “Only that’s not you in that picture, is it?” He held up the exact same picture of me and Emmalin. “Now unless you and Mrs. Mandrake shop at the same place and you make yourself up to look exactly like her, I believe that’s your head photoshopped on to Mrs. Mandrake’s body, and quite poorly I might add, next to Grayson Mandrake.”
She looked up, fear apparent in her eyes. All that confident and demure attitude she had earlier was now gone. Francisco leaned his hip against the table. “Tell us, how you did it Ms. Schaffer. That night in Paris. You spiked his drink, touched him very inappropriately while he was out, and stole his sperm, didn’t you?”
Her eyes shot back and forth between me and Francisco. “It’s okay, you can say it. Rohypnol, right? I mean, how else would you be able to get someone who is 6’4 to be taken down like that.” He turned to the arbitrator. “I just want to add, that we’ll also be filing charges for sexual assault against Ms. Schaffer.” Claudia’s eyes grew wide and she stood up, knocking over her glass of water.
“I wanted a baby!” Tears were streaming down her face now. “I wanted a baby, and I wanted him to fall in love with me.”
The arbitrator looking shocked, at everything presented before him, started to speak, but Claudia ran out the room. Her attorney looking equally shocked ran after her. I turned toward both Francisco and Syed, and then looked down at the papers. Nothing more needed to be said. Everything was right here. Even if Claudia and her lawyers wanted to attempt to even try to take this to actual court, the whole thing would be moot. We exchanged a few more words with the arbitrator about what was going to happen now. Francisco still wanted to push the assault charges. At this point I didn’t even care, I just wanted this to be done.
I took several deep breaths before I stood up. It was over. It was all over.
I walked out and a rush of reporters started gathering around us. I stood to the side as Francisco and Syed fielded all the questions. I looked over, saw Jack against the wall, and went over to him.
He extended his hand. “Jack. Not that I’m questioning your skills, but how’d you discover all of that?”
He slowly shook his head and smiled. “I didn’t. I helped.” I gave him a questioning look. “Emmalin came to me a few weeks ago. She noticed the pin Claudia wore on her lapel. We zoomed in, and saw it was a purple wildcat. We continued from there. She flew to Kansas yesterday and met with the grandmother.”
My eyes narrowed. “You let her
go alone? What if something had happened?”
Jack stepped closer. “But, it didn’t.” He pointed his finger at me. “You need to learn to trust. Emmalin is smart. She loves you.” He turned and walked away. I checked the time. Three hours. Three hours for all of this. I started to leave when I spotted the white envelope I had given Emmalin on a nearby bench. I hesitantly grabbed it and pulled the papers out. I flipped through all the pages where she was to sign. She didn’t. I placed the envelope back in my inner pocket, and headed home.
Meredith was home with Flick. When I walked in, I immediately beelined to where my sister was standing with my daughter in her arms and hugged them both. “You didn’t have to do that,” I murmured to her.
She played with Flick’s hair. “I know. But I wanted to.” She looked around. “Where’s Emmalin?”
“She wasn’t at the courthouse when I left…but I have a feeling I know where she is.” I kissed the top of Flick’s head. “I hate to ask you to watch her for me, but…”
“Grayson, if you don’t get the hell out of here, I will hold Emersyn hostage. Take as long as you need.”
I gave my sister another hug, grabbed what I needed, and left.
29
Emmalin
It worked. At least I hoped it did. I didn’t have my phone, which was stupid, but I did see on the news the statement Francisco gave. I walked around the cabin. Grayson took me here once. A home he had right outside the city, that he never visited. I ran my hand along the mantle. Even though we haven’t been here since that time, he still had it updated with pictures of us and pictures of Emersyn.
I made some soup I found in the cabinet and laid on the couch. It was close to midnight. I picked up my Kindle, determined to finish Filthy Bastard by Shelley Springfield and Emily Minton, but after reading the same line over and over again, I closed it. I was about to head to the room when I heard the crunching noise of a car on the gravel. I peered behind the curtain, seeing a car approached.
