Imperfect Consequences

by Piper Stone

  Jameson kept the smile plastered on his face as he studied her, taking sip after sip of his drink, until the ice clinked in the bottom of the glass.

  Was there a bead of sweat slipping down the side of his face? Shannon studied the single drip and could tell he was struggling. Why? This wasn’t like a man who could face any multi-millionaire in court with a flare that always won a solid two million for whatever poor woman who’d been hit on by some stud wanna-be. Jameson’s blood was blue from ice running throughout and yet, today, she could see a crack in his armor. “Too many dates with the women you were sworn to protect?”

  He never blinked, merely drained the rest of his glass and held up the dense crystal for the waiter to see.

  A full three or so minutes passed, and Shannon was convinced he was going to toss her out on her ear, and not just from the swanky club.

  “Whether or not you appreciate my method of practicing the law, the fact is my record is exemplary. The women I defend are from all walks of life. They simply found themselves in difficult situations needing to pay their bills or perhaps medical settlements. They didn’t intend on succumbing to men who lorded their positions over them with threats of beings demoted or fired. These women had no idea what they’d gotten themselves into and asked for assistance. Some asked for help and they had no idea if they would ever work in town again, or if they’d be shamed for sharing some level of intimacy with men who, quite frankly, couldn’t find their way out of a paper bag without the money they made. If I offend you with my choice of law, I’m sorry Ms. Parker. That had never been my intent.”

  The words echoed in the small space. She fidgeted and gulped her wine and found herself ordering another glass when he asked for a tall bourbon. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to offend you.”

  “You never offend, Shannon. You’re right that I can be a womanizer. I’ve enjoyed many flavors. I won’t lie about my desires or the fact I’ve enjoyed the company of women of all ages. But I assure you, what you and I shared wasn’t just about a conquest,” Jameson said and swiveled his chair.

  As he watched the piano player, seeming to study the young blond who certainly was more than talented, she could see an unusual sadness in his eyes. The few seconds of raw emotion crossing his face she hadn’t expected.

  “And to tell you the truth, I had grown weary of the rat race with women, as well as going out night after night. I longed to feel the gentle touch of the same woman, perhaps share a life.”

  “Then why didn’t you?” Shannon snorted. The audacity of the man was utterly amazing.

  He turned his head, looked her in the eyes for a full ten seconds, and then gazed down. “I did. I found the perfect woman.”

  This was news. This was very interesting news. “Where is she, sharing space with…” Groaning, she reeled in her inner bitch. “I’m sorry. That was uncalled for. I take it you’re very happy?”

  This time, he had his hand wrapped around the base of his glass merely seconds after the waiter eased the base on the table. “It’s been a couple years.”

  “I’m sorry. Divorce is a bitch,” Shannon found herself barely able to say the ugly word.

  “I wouldn’t know.”

  The three words were said with such angst they caught her off guard. “Having troubles then?”

  Jameson smiled. “In truth, we’ve never had any trouble. No harsh words. No bad times. Hillary, God, an amazing woman.”

  She opened her mouth to retort until the dim lighting managed to catch a wretched look in his eyes. “The relationship is in trouble now?”

  “We… No.” Jameson shook his head. “I fell in love with Hillary the moment I saw her in the courtroom and before you ask, she was one of the young women I defended. I was hopeless with loving her. I just… I don’t know. I never believed in love at first sight, but there she was, with a strong conviction and a mouth that could rival yours.”

  The sheepish look on his face was almost endearing. Almost. “And you had to have her.”

  “And I have to have her.” He smiled. “Trust me, she pushed me off for a full two months, long after the case was over. Then I wore her down.” Sighing, Jameson lifted the glass, holding the rim to his lips for a few seconds before taking a sip.

  “I take it she gave into your charms.” Shannon didn’t want to be ugly. She could tell there were real feelings in his eyes, in the words he was saying. Still, she couldn’t help but wonder what he’d done to the poor woman. Her guess was slept with one or five women. That was a typical response.

  “I know you might find this tough to believe, but only after several months of pleading, love notes, little presents and enough texts she changed her phone service, did she allow me to take her out. And I do say allow. The woman was tough as nails and then some. But God, I adored her from the moment I heard her laugh.” His faraway look matched the bluesy music and he swayed in his seat, a slight hum coming from his mouth.

  Shannon bit her lower lip. This wasn’t the same man who she’d seen in the courtroom. Then again, what intelligent man didn’t have several sides? David. Her David certainly did. “She must make you very happy.”

  Jameson nodded. “Yes. She did.”

  The words hung in the air. “Did?”

  Very slowly, he turned his head. “She was killed in a horrific car accident almost two years ago.”

  Oh fuck. Now, she felt like a bitch. “I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s taken me quite a while to heal, but I do feel that she’s in a better place.” Jameson’s eyes misted briefly before he swallowed hard and gave her a careful grin. “We didn’t come here to talk about my indiscretions with you, which I will admit was not my best judgment call. Still, you’re beautiful and this was a few years ago, when I really was a playboy. I can assure you that night I deemed as special. I’m sorry that you can’t, but I certainly understand.”

  She opened her mouth to retort, but he boiled over her.

  “What we did come here to discuss was this promotion. I want you to truly understand that I’m not trying to create an environment that you find reprehensible to work in.”

  “I didn’t suggest that you are,” Shannon said half-heartedly.

  “Of course, you did, and I would expect nothing less of you.” Jameson laughed, then raised his glass. “I promise you, I have no hidden agendas. No matter what you might think of me, I’m not going to interfere with your marriage.”

  “Do the other members on the Board know of our relationship?” As soon as she asked the question, she laughed. “Our one-night stand.”

  “You can call me a cad, an asshole, a womanizer, but I refuse to kiss and tell, to anyone for any reason. Of course not. My praise regarding you is merely on your record, both in and out of the courtroom. I know this will be a rather difficult decision for you, but honestly, I believe you’re the right person to lead the next team.” He raised a single eyebrow and waited until she raised her glass. After they clicked, he took a sip, his eyes never leaving hers. “Please tell me you’re at least interested, even fascinated in the possibility of taking Miami by storm. Beaches, buff bodies.”

  “A lot of work.”

  “Yeah, but think about the amazing rewards if you make this branch a success. I hate to use the highly overused phrase, but the sky really is the limit here. If the plan works out, we want to capitalize on real estate law, association law, and even a partial emphasis on entertainment law. Believe it or not, there is only one other firm who practices two of the three together. Just close your eyes for a moment and imagine, envision.

  As his words settled in, she sat back in her seat, but refused to close her eyes. “I’m not going to lie that I’m not interested, maybe curious.”

  “Curious?” Jameson shook his head. “You make this sound more like a root canal.” When Shannon remained quiet, he snorted. “Shannon, I know you better than you would care me to know.”

  “How do you think you know me? We’ve never really talked, carried on even a basic conversatio
n.” We just fucked. The words were true enough. Well, she detected no malice or even a hidden agenda. Not yet, anyway.

  “I am a member of the Board of Directors. I do keep up with my employees.” Shifting in his seat, he crossed his legs and turned toward the piano player.

  Shannon studied his facial expressions, the way he didn’t register any real emotion now. The blip regarding his wife was just that, a blip. Still, the moment had allowed her to think maybe, just maybe, the man had a soul. “All right. I’ll concede the point.”

  “Said like a true attorney.”

  “I suppose. I just have a few weeks before I would have to move?”

  “Give or take. Yes. The truth is we have a client that is a huge developer who is pressing us for representation. He is not only building a new, very high-dollar gated community, but is offering up all the rest on a silver platter if we supply him with the right person.” Jameson scooted his chair, getting closer. “And that person is you. You’re the only one in our entire organization who can pull this off.”

  “And why is that?” Shannon pushed. There was always another hidden element. Always.

  Sniffing, he took a few seconds before shaking his head. “He’s an asshole. I’m not going to lie about that. He’s a man who lords it over women, but he hates dealing with men. That being said, as a woman, you have to be a barracuda in order to stay out of the deep water, one filled with sharks.”

  Just hearing the words did intrigue her. “Hmm…”

  “Sound like your kind of a man?”

  “Just,” Shannon stated, giving him a look. “What is the salary?”

  “Ah, good. You are interested.” Jameson tugged an envelope from his suit pocket. “I think you’ll be pleased.” He looked away as he pushed the manila envelope across the table.

  Shannon took her time folding her hand around the thin package, trying to keep her cool. But more than just curiosity got the better of her. She darted a look toward him as she peeled open the flap. The single piece of paper told her enough. The salary was more than doubled, the perks including several additional weeks of vacation time was amazing. And the money just in which to be able to make the move more than enough to have David start his business in another location. Then there was the offer of being on the Board of Directors – the compensation almost what she was making now. “Wow.”

  Jameson hummed to the music, tapping his fingers on top of the table. “I’m glad you seem to appreciate it. Of course, everything is negotiable.”

  Negotiable? Whew. She was having trouble breathing and was fighting screaming with glee. This was everything she’d wanted her entire life. Be cool. Stay cool. Right. “Negotiable. All right.”

  “I’m glad you’re going to consider the offer.”

  “I need to think about this. I already said so.” Oh, who was she kidding?

  “Of course, you do. Take some time. I have a brief I want to share with you as well, regarding the jobsite, the new building where the office is going to be. I want you to see every aspect, so you know what you’re going to be getting yourself into.”

  He was so certain of himself, so self-assured. “All right. I have a vacation I’ve been planning.”

  “Let’s meet for breakfast tomorrow early and I’ll truly give you all of the details. Tonight, is just about celebrating and allowing this to sink in. I took the liberty of looking up a few gorgeous condominiums near the office, so you could take a look. They’re swanky and very expensive, but we know the developer and he has already told us he’ll be happy to make a deal on at least one of them. Every one of them has an incredible ocean view and they are close to the nightlife. I know how much you love to dance.”

  “You’ve thought of everything.”

  “Only the best for you, Shannon,” Jameson cooed.

  Shannon nodded and as hard as she tried to nurse her glass of wine, found herself gulping more and more. My God, her nerves were on edge. What was David going to say? What in the world was she going to say to him? How would he react? Would he think this was planned because of the trouble they were having in their marriage? Jesus. Another gulp, a series of tingles and beads of sweat rolling down the back of her neck and her heart was racing.

  “You look flushed. I have to admit, I’m surprised. I know this is what you want. I know this is what you need,” Jameson said with no inflection in his voice.

  “Need? Maybe. I don’t know.” And she honestly didn’t. You’re lying to yourself. You’re lying because you know, and you want and… Now she was about ready to hyperventilate. God! This was a terrible place to be in all the way around.

  “You need another glass of wine.”

  “I need…” Shannon stood and pushed back from the table, attempting to smile. “I need a bit of air first, then another glass of wine will be just fine.” She didn’t wait for his answer, nor did she care at this point. She just needed to get away and refresh, splash water in her face – try not to scream for various reasons. Whew, this was nuts. She slyly grabbed her purse and couldn’t resist fingering the offer.

  Shannon knew his eyes were following her as she walked into the dim lighting, trying to keep her faculties in check while she found the bathroom. Somehow, she was able to find herself in a darkened hallway. There was nothing but tunnel vision in her focus. Placing her hand over her heart, she eased against the wall and counted to ten. As she blinked furiously, she could swear Jameson had followed her to the bathroom. Really? The man was relentless.

  Groaning, she slapped her hand against the door and moved inside the brightly lit space. Time was something she needed. Forced to wait in line for a stall, she nibbled on her bottom lip in the most egregious fashion and sweated profusely. She’d left the offer on the table and all she wanted to do was scream like a little kid, enjoying the very concept of someone giving a shit about her work performance. This was something heady indeed.

  A laugh bubbled to the surface as she dropped her purse three times in the heated stall. So much for being cool. After coming out, she took her time splashing water in her face, fingering her hair into ringlets and applying a fresh coat of lipstick. Taking a step back, she smoothed down her dress and nodded. This wasn’t a bad look for an executive. Not at all. As she studied the girl in front of her, the one who might have just found her ship, she gripped the counter.

  “You have to do this. You have to,” the whisper was under her breath. The truth was there, the need strong. David would see how important this was for her. He would. He could work anywhere. He could start over in any city and Miami – my goodness. He’d have a built-in client list with her clients. She grew excited for a few seconds, then could hear David’s words, his scoffing. A move? Right…

  The money was good. The move would be good for both of them. But… she was going to have to ask him the question as well as make the suggestion at the right time. That time wasn’t smack in the middle of their retreat to figure out their marriage. Negotiations? Yes, that she could do. Yanking her purse off the counter, she headed for the door, feeling more in control.

  A crowd of women moved into the darkened hallway, laughing and joking as they headed for the bathroom. She inched through the crowd and listened to the music, almost as if for the first time since she’d arrived. Yes, she could do this, and she could convince David it was a good move. After the trip. Laughing softly to herself, she pushed through the women and tilted back her head.

  “Shannon.”

  Instantly, she froze. There would never be a moment she’d ever forget what the gravelly voice sounded like, the dangerous and very husky tone. Light and sound stopped around her, and for a few seconds, she knew she wasn’t able to move. “Mark.” He looked different, gaunt. His eyes were haunted, and the baseball cap hid what had been his crop of shoulder length hair. He seemed hollow, as if prison had broken his spirit. But the face held the same rugged good looks she’d fallen in love with. Both good and bad memories surfaced, and for a few seconds, she could remember the happy times. Then t
he ugliness of the man he’d actually been floated into the forefront of her mind. Mark held many sides of him close to his breast. One was a distinct monster.

  “You and I need to talk.”

  “Over my dead body.” Why did she have to be shaking? Why? Why did he have to come here…? Wait a minute. This was no coincidence. “Are you hunting me down against your restraining order, Mark? Are you purposely trying to get yourself thrown back in prison?”

  “Look, I wasn’t following you, okay?” The words were terse.

  “Right. As if this is your kind of place. I see you as more of a rough and tumble guy. You know, beers and ballroom brawls.” Shannon was surprised at the way he looked. Gone was the swagger that used to be apparent in every move, every look on his face. It was as if prison time had taken away so much from him.

  Sighing, he darted looks toward the open space. “That was a low blow, but I guess I deserved it. I’m not here to take anything away from your life. Okay?”

  “So, you’re admitting you followed me.”

  Mark sniffed. “All right. I knew you wouldn’t answer your phone or God forbid, allow me inside your home, so…”

  “You’re right,” Shannon interrupted.

  “I’m not trying to interrupt date night with the husband. I just wanted to talk, to tell you I’ve changed. For what it’s worth, anyway. I’m going to try and make amends in every way I can. I made a promise to myself the first day I was in prison.”

  “That’s not my husband and I’ve been through this with you before. You used to say you were going to change, to stop drinking and yet, you carried on. Life is one big party, isn’t that what you used to say to me? A party with a girl in every city, eager to bed a celebrity.”

  Mark inched closer, crowding her space. “Forever the martyr, aren’t you, Shannon? By the looks of what I witnessed a few minutes ago, I would say the two of you were planning on getting cozy.”