Of course, the one day I promise Melissa that I won’t do anything work related, I get a call from Axel about an issue at the office. A damn ‘issue’ is the last thing I want to deal with today, especially knowing that it more than likely has to do with Mrs. Hutchins, our newest and most aggravating client.
Mrs. Hutchins first came to us about a month ago, convinced that her older husband was sleeping with every female around. She calls constantly. She stops by the office daily. There isn’t a damn thing we can say to convince the woman that her husband is very much faithful. She doesn’t believe it. I’m starting to get the impression that she is only comes around because she has her eyes on Asher.
During the first meeting we took with her, she all but offered to pay Axel and me to sleep with her. Even if I weren’t the happiest damn married man around, there isn’t a check large enough that would convince me to sleep with her. She has something evil scratching the surface, and I want that as far away from me as possible.
If only Asher could see things the same way. I know that he hasn’t yet, but he’s thinking about it, and I know that if he sinks into that woman, she will leave him with something he can never wash off.
Shaking off the creepy-as-hell feeling Mrs. Hutchins always leaves me with, I jog up the stairs in search of my wife. I can hear her and Cohen’s laughter coming out of our bedroom and head that way.
“Why do my angels have a party when they’re still in your belly? They can’t open any presents when they’re in your belly. Do you think we’ll get cake? I love cake. Will Dilbert be there?”
I smile, walk over to Melissa, and wrap my arms around to rest against her swollen belly as Cohen continues his random questioning.
He finally stops talking and jumps off the bed. Without even a word, he takes off running out the bedroom door.
Melissa and I both laugh at the tornado that is Cohen Cage. Damn, I love that kid.
“Sometimes I wonder if he just talks because he likes the sound of his voice. You know, almost every time he starts on his twenty questions, they end in him running off without even having one answer.”
I laugh because she isn’t wrong. But Cohen is a boy full of energy, and if asking a million questions and fighting imaginary villains is what it takes, then hey, I can work with that.
Melissa turns with her smile beaming. I thought I was being careful to mask my expression, but she must have noticed that my mood was off because her smile slips and she looks at me with wide, hopeful eyes.
“Beauty . . .” I start.
“Don’t you Beauty me, Greg. You promised you would make it clear to Axel that you weren’t doing anything work related today. It’s my baby shower, and while I know this isn’t something you have any interest in attending, it means something to me. Everyone is excited. Cohen is through-the-roof excited. And I was excited until I realized that you’re not going to be there.”
She takes a breath, but before she can continue, I interrupt her. “Melissa, if it were any other client, I wouldn’t even think about it. I need this woman taken care of before our girls get here. Axel can’t deal with her alone, Beck can’t deal with her at all, and Asher isn’t allowed to deal with her. With Maddox gone, it’s only me.” I lean my forehead against hers and take a deep breath. “She’s one of our highest-paying clients, Melissa, and even though we live a comfortable life, I can’t help my worries with our girls coming. We’re going from a family of three to one of five overnight.”
Her face softens and her eyes lose their wounded look. I know she wants me there—hell, I want to be there—but I’m not lying.
“It’s that terribly nasty trophy wife, isn’t it?”
She may think she has me fooled with that bored tone, but I know she and the other girls secretly plot ways to make Mrs. Hutchins disappear.
“Yeah, Beauty. It’s her.” I brace for it because I know it’s coming.
“I hate that plastic, home-wrecking, troll-trotting, skank bitch,” she seethes.
She isn’t unjust with her hatred either. Between her, Izzy, and Dee, each of them has witnessed her attempt at getting their men to stray. We joke about it, because they know we would never even think about it, but when it comes down to it, we all want her out of our lives.
“I know, and you aren’t alone. We agreed a few weeks ago that we wouldn’t take meetings with her alone anymore. She threw herself at Beck, which is why he flat-out refuses to even be near her. Asher is out of town so he can’t help. It’s just me, and baby, as much as I hate it, I can’t let Axel deal with her alone.”
She nods her head in understanding, “I know. I get it, I really do, but that doesn’t mean I like it.” She hugs me close, and I rest my chin on the top of her head.