Page 42 of Seven Minutes In Heaven
Chapter 14
“The engagement is over, obviously,” Claire told the throng of reporters outside of Arthur’s downtown office. She had it on good authority that her father-in-law was holed up in there, surrounded by his yes-men and a bevy of lawyers who would lick his boots if he commanded it. “I will absolutely not condone the actions Arthur Carter has been accused of. Before you ask, no, I will not be joining the lawsuit. I am a lucky woman in that regard.”
That didn’t sate the reporters’ appetites. They yelled louder, and the bodyguards Jake hired for his wife had to push them back so Claire could continue her way into the building. “Ms. Finn!” one particularly loud reporter yelled. “Why are you visiting Arthur if you’re no longer engaged?”
She stopped in front of the double-doors and turned around with mischief glinting in her eyes. “Why, to deliver the news of our breakup to him. Let’s have a friendly competition, shall we? See if you can get the news to him before I do. You’ve got about five minutes.”
Laughter, shutter clicks, and cheers of support rang out. It was only then that Claire noticed the small group picketing the offices with homemade signs and a bullhorn. The only reason they hadn’t been dragged away by security was because they stood on the small public space between buildings.So beautiful. I bet Arthur loves it.
One bodyguard went ahead of her while the other stayed behind. Claire ducked into the executive elevator, something she had been granted access to ever since the engagement was announced months ago. The slight lurch of the aging device made her more nauseas than the elevator in Jake’s apartment building did. The baby certainly didn’t like it. Claire never had so much gas in her life when she stepped off the elevator and onto the executive floor. Somehow, it was fitting. Nothing said that she was there to further ruin Arthur’s life like burping up half her lunch before she reached the receptionist, currently juggling a million callers and giving them all the same stock greeting of,“No, Mr. Carter willnotrespond!”
“Claire!” Arthur clamped his hand over his heart when he saw her stroll into his office. He glanced at the two bodyguards. “What the hell are you doing here?”
That was it? A caustic semi-accusation? What? Did he think she was there to ask for money? To accuse him of sexual harassment, or worse? That would be a riot.I kinda wish he would. Laying into him would be the sweetest thing I could ever hope for.
The moment was already sweet, honestly. Because one of the men Arthur was having a meeting with was none other than Jake, who chuckled at his wife’s sudden presence. (He had known she was coming, of course. This was all a part of their plan after Jake received an emergency summons to his father’s office that morning.)
“I’m here to make your life an even bigger hell than it already is, Arthur.” Claire brushed her bangs out of her face. Her 24-karat princess cut diamond wedding ring flashed in the light. Arthur certainly noticed it, and he knew it looked nothing like her engagement ring – something she had sold the same day she and her husband bought their wedding bands. The proceeds of the sale went to the victims’ legal fund. “Let’s start with how I’m breaking up with you. At least before you can break up with me.”
“Of course you’re breaking up with me!” Arthur tossed his folder into the air. The assistant standing behind him caught it before it could hit the floor. “Do you think I’m an idiot? Tell me something I don’t know, Claire.”
Ohoho, he walked right into it, hadn’t he?
“Let’s start with the fact that I’m almost five months pregnant and, duh, it’s not yours.” Claire couldn’t hide her bulge anymore, anyway. Or at least not when she took off her baggy sweatshirts, sweaters, and jackets. Like she did now, when her jacket landed on the back of Jake’s chair. She had made sure to wear a tight dress to show off the baby bump.The obstetrician is pretty sure it’s a girl, but he’s not 100% sure yet.Even more reason to cut ties from this monster. “Get calling me a slut and whore out of your system now, Arthur, because I’m already bored. Especially considering how many women you screwed – over, I might add – during our engagement.”
“Told you,” one of the assistants muttered. Arthur threw his pencil across the room. Everyone on his supposed side flinched.
“Who’s the father, huh?” Arthur laughed. “I bet it’s one of the handymen! Or, let me guess… one of your male lead friends who can’t keep it in his pants.”
“It’s me, Dad.” Jake pushed himself up from his chair. Arthur lost the smile on his face. “When I told you that I had met someone special, it was Claire. We’ve been together for almost three months now.”
Arthur’s eyes widened to the point that Claire worried they would pop out of his skull. “You ungrateful little…”
“You always told me that I needed to be more sexually aggressive, Dad.” The more Jake had told Claire about his relationship with his father, the happier Claire had been that her husband was severing all ties with him.The things he told his own son growing up… how did Jake not turn out like him?“What’s more aggressive than the cub ripping away his father’s own bride for himself?”
Arthur had nothing nice to say. Claire made sure to not commit those words to memory.
“Here’s what’s going to happen,Dad.” Jake gestured to the man sitting next to him, who had been silent until now. Claire recognized her husband’s lawyer. It was the same man representing the women, not that Arthur knew that yet. “You’re going to step down from the company and hand everything over to me. Your name has completely tarnished the business, and I’m afraid you’ve left me a lot of shit to clean up. Which I’ll do, by the way, because there are still many good men and women who rely on this company to feed their families and create the next generation of dreams. But you will have no part of it.”
“I will do no such thing.”
“Afraid you don’t have a choice, Mr. Carter.” The lawyer handed over a piece of paper. “There’s a morality clause in the contractyour own lawyershad you sign when you established this company forty years ago. Afraid the recent allegations make it clear that there’s not much room left for you here.”
“What about him, huh?” Arthur pointed a finger in his son’s face. “He signed the same clause! What’s ethical about knocking up his father’s fiancée? Let alone having a baby out of wedlock!”
“Oh, that’s right, Arthur.” Claire twiddled her fingers in front of him again. “We got married a few days ago. I really am Mrs. Carter, now, but you were unable to make it to the ceremony in Vegas. You’ll also not be invited to the reception we’re throwing next month.”
“After all, your engagement to my wife may be concluded, Dad, but we might as well use those lovely reservations you made.”
“Married…baby!” Jake had been right that his father would be irater about this turn of events than losing his own company – or the allegations against him. That was the kind of man he was, after all. “I can’t believe you would do this to your own father, boy. What kind of man are you? Did your mother put you up to this?”
“Mother had nothing to do with it. At the end of the day, I am still your son in many ways. Just not the terrible ones, thank you.”
“Why, you…”
Arthur’s assistant clamped his hand on his boss’s shoulder. “Sir, I think it’s wise if we call your lawyer again. He’ll know what to do.”
“Yes,” Jake’s lawyer said. “That sounds like a grand idea. I’d love to have a chat with your lawyer, Mr. Carter. I have a feeling that he and I will be seeing a lot of each other in the coming future.”
