Page 49 of Just Desserts

Isla was adorably mute both embarrassed and flustered from the kiss. I looked at her employees and gave them a nod.

"Ladies, sorry for making the boss late."

Isla's gasp had me chuckling as I walked out the door. I felt a tingle on the back of my neck, causing me to hesitate beforegetting into my car. I looked around but didn't see anything nefarious. Shaking my head I got into the truck and made my way to The Bennett House.

Chapter 34

Alyssa

I gave Jonathan space to calm down after the office party. I needed the time for myself anyway, time to realign and refocus my mission. The week after the dreadful party, I made sure everything was cleaned properly, and brought the photos back to the office. I placed the pictures in their rightful spot, grateful to see the office looking and smelling spotless. Some of the photos had gotten a bit water damaged, but I didn't think anyone would notice.

I made sure to turn the face of those frames towards unoccupied areas of the office. I looked closely, seeing the edges of the photos curling back almost as if they were trying to roll up and disappear from the frame. Oh well, there was only so much I could do, and I had the cleaning bill to deal with still. Jonathan left a copy of it on my desk, it was over $400.

I was furious. I obviously didn't have the funds readily available. So I drove two towns over to go to a pawn shop. I didn't want to risk anyone in town recognizing the items, but I managed to make a quick 5k from Isla's jewelry. April was now upon us and Jonathan was still giving me the silent treatment.

Using the last of that money, I proceeded with the next stage of my plan. I placed an order at the best restaurant in town and picked up eggplant rollatini and chicken marsala with sides of roasted vegetables and garlic bread. I didn't want to call Jonathan, didn't want to give him the opportunity to block me or hang up. I went to his house to see if he was there. Seeinghis empty driveway, I went and parked down the street so he wouldn't see my car.

This would be a big surprise, he would come home and I would be waiting for him. I would apologize, I would grovel, I would do whatever I had to do in order to get us back on the same course. He needed me, whether he realized it or not. If he tried to take me down, I would pull him down with me.

I had already taken the time to go through the footage on the SD card. I had isolated a few clips to show Jonathan taking drugs and removing any aspects showing my involvement or consent. I could bring this to the partners if they tried to fire me and keep Jonathan. Gathering my purchases from the car, I headed to his house.

Using Isla's keys to let myself in, I set the kitchen table with candles and flowers, and turned the oven on. I quickly transferred the food from their takeout containers into pans, placing them in the oven to warm. I took special care to ensure it looked like I took the time to cook everything myself, heading to the garage to stuff the evidence of my purchases into the bottom of the trash bin before going upstairs to set up the bedroom.

I heard some voices outside and assumed it was Jonathan greeting the neighbors. I took that as my cue and checked my appearance in the bedroom mirror for the final time. I was dressed like a French maid, my chest was lifted to astronomical heights and was nearly falling out of the black and white satin. The skirt barely covered my ass, showing off the thong and garter belt I was wearing. I finished the whole look off with thigh highs and platform shoes.

Grabbing the feather duster, I headed to the landing above the stairs. I waited to hear the key in the door before I started my descent, anticipation and anxiety swirling togethernearly slowing my forward momentum. Now wasn't the time to second guess myself though, so with a quick fluff of my hair I picked up the pace. I pumped myself up by picturing Jonathan's face when he stepped through and saw my vision come to life. I set myself up at the bottom of the stairs making sure I was in the direct eyeline of the front door. Posing, I bent over pretending to dust while waiting for the door to open.

Jonathan

In the wake of the office party, Alyssa had been blessedly quiet. Grateful that she finally seemed to get the message, the longer I went without seeing or speaking to her the better I felt. It was a Sunday and I had spent the day just driving around, thinking about what to do next. Legally speaking, I no longer had a leg to stand on. The idea of the divorce going through gutted me though. It was too final. As I turned onto my street I thought I spied Alyssa's car down the block but was distracted when I noticed my parents car parked in my driveway. My nerves were shot. I had no sort of internal gauge to control my response to seeing them here but a flicker of hope burned through me.

After the office party, once I finally had space from Alyssa, I decided to ask my parents to step in and speak to Isla. Maybe their conversation with her went well? Maybe she was open to talking to me? I pulled my car into my spot and turned it off, taking a minute to breathe deeply and gird myself for what I would find out.

Hopping out of my car, I hurried around it to meet my parents by the front door. Looking down as I tried to find the right key, I missed my parents' approach. Looking up, I finally took in their grim expressions and my shoulders dropped. Looks like their conversation with Isla didn't go well. When I made eye contact with my mother, I was taken aback by what I saw.

She looked like she had aged almost a decade, her eyes were redand her mouth was set in a rigid line. My father didn't look any better. His posture was slouched, the lines on his face seeming deeper, the bags under his eyes looked like bruises. He had his arm around my mother as if he was expecting her to collapse any second.

What happened? What had Isla told them? I took a step towards my mom, reaching my arm out to touch her shoulder.

"Ma? Are you okay? What happened?"

I expected a lot of things, but the slap that sent my head turning was not one of them. I looked up in shock, my mother had her hands clasped over her mouth, seemingly horrified at her action. My father just shook his head, looking at me like this was my fault. He whispered in my mothers ear and she burst into tears, turning into my fathers chest and giving me her back. My cheek was stinging and my parents were looking at me like I was a stranger, a criminal.

"How could you Jonathan Maxwell? How could you do this! Not just to Isla but to us? We didn't raise you to be a liar and a cheat!" My mothers voice was guttural, clearly trying to choke back sobs. Her tear stained face gutted me, then I processed what she had said. All of the blood rushed to my head. They were my parents, they were supposed to be on my side.

"You don't understand, Alyssa tricked me! Isla won't even let me explain!"

This couldn't be happening. I felt like I was grasping at straws, my own parents were looking at me like I was a bug stuck to the bottom of their shoes. My father still hadn't spoken and the extent of how fully drained he looked hit me. William Conner was a robust man, full of energy and life. He commanded the room when he walked in; people looked up to him for advice and business acumen.

He was my hero. I had spent my entire life trying to make him happy and win his approval. Introducing Isla to him was the closest I ever got. When she accepted my proposal he flat out told me he was surprised I managed to find and keep her. That I had to treat her like a queen, how she was the best thing to ever happen to me. His stern warning to not fuck it up, belatedly rang through my head.

Just another disappointment to add to his list. He was upset when I didn't want to join the family company. He was disgruntled when I overbid on the house and he had to step in to help with the payments. I had dreams growing up of becoming a rich lawyer and surpassing my father in wealth and respect. One day he would need my help. That day hadn't come though.

"We went to go see Isla." My father finally said. Warily, I met his eyes and sighed when I saw the utter defeat in his gaze.

"Please, can we talk about this inside. Mom, let me make you a cup of tea or something please just come in." I pleaded, something about their mannerisms made this visit seem very final.

My neighbors were in their yards or looking out their windows, unabashedly watching the scene unfolding in front of my house. Self conscious, it felt like I couldn't seem to escape participating in a spectacle these days. Ignoring my fathers protest, I unlocked the door and swung it open. I went to help my mother through the entry way only to have her lurch away, as if touching me was repulsive to her.

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