Page 39 of Convincing Him
Chapter Eight
Seven days before the wedding.
“Hi Mario,” waived Britney as she passed the coffee and snack cart.
“Miss Crawford,” he jauntily waived in return as he helped a customer.
Britney resolved to see him on her way back to get a little something for herself. She had a busy afternoon ahead. Dropping off Gabe’s lunches was taking nearly an hour out of her own day, but Britney didn’t begrudge him one bit. Not after they had started kissing each night before retiring. Gabe was an excellent kisser, the reality far exceeding her dreams.
She loved him even more now than what she used to. Britney was counting down the days until he was hers.
Smiling at the ever annoyed Jessica, Britney let herself into Gabe’s office. Pulling the lunch she had prepared out of a thermal lined bag, Britney began to lay it out on the desk.
“He’s in a meeting,” a haughty Jessica informed her from the door. “It’s not expected to finish for at least another hour or so.”
“I can wait,” Britney gave the breezy response, refusing to be baited by the secretary. She would just work from her phone until Gabe returned.
Jessica shrugged. As she left, the office door stayed open.
Rolling her eyes, Britney went to close it but stopped as she overheard Jessica call out to Parker.
“Parker!” trilled Jessica. “Is it true the FBI is here?”
“Could you yell it any louder?” hissed Parker as he came to stand beside Jessica’s desk. He hadn’t seen the FBI agent around but was willing to take Jessica’s word for it. “It is something we’d like to keep quiet.”
“I’m so sorry,” a not sorry Jessica pouted. “I was simply curious. Gabe is talking to some man named Kepler right now.”
“Agent Kepler? I wonder what he wants,” frowned Parker.
“Maybe Gabe will bribe him, just like his father did,” shrugged Jessica.
“Dad didn’t bribe anyone,” growled Parker. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Well, your dad didn’t. Oscar is too stupid to even think of bribing his way out of a situation. James isn’t your father, Parker. Oops,” Jessica put a delicate hand to her mouth. “That’s a secret. Just like it is a secret Gabe is only marrying pitiful Britney as revenge. His dad came up with the ultimatum and what could be more fitting than to marry the girl whose father thought up how to make the drug smuggling scheme more straightforward and profitable? Erwin really was indispensable to David, otherwise the Crawfords never would have been respectable enough to enter your level of society. Gabe is marrying scum because he knows it makes his father angry.”
“It’s not true,” a stunned Parker looked at Jessica.
“Really? Then has he told his intended his own father is the reason everyone is in jail?” challenged Jessica. “James tattled to the FBI and that’s why Erwin and all the rest are in jail or being investigated. You’ll notice none of James’s accounts, his sons accounts or Ramesly Hospital and Medical Corporation accounts are frozen.
“Yet wait,” Jessica clicked a perfectly manicured fingernail against her lower lip. “Maybe yours will be, Parker. Afterall, you are the by-blow of Oscar. Perhaps it is the subject of Kepler’s meeting with Gabe, you and your parentage. Gabe is trying to save face and make sure the truth doesn’t come out, but we all know that secrets always come to light at the most inconvenient times.”
“This is not true,” Britney came out of the office, glaring at Jessica. “You are just a jealous cow spewing lies.”
“Parker knows it’s the truth,” shrugged Jessica. “James has hated the sight of him for years. Why? Because he reminds him of his wife’s infidelity. Although, who could blame Dotty for having a little too much to drink and sleeping with her handsome brother-in-law when James had been carrying on with his secretary for years. While James and Dotty have forgiven each other and moved on, James can’t seem to forgive Parker.”
“You’re fired,” stated Parker in a voice which was too calm.
“I don’t think so,” mused Jessica. “I know far too much about this family. You’ll have to pay me off.”
“It is not true,” Britney looked to Parker for confirmation. “He’s not marrying me for revenge.”
“Partly revenge, partly to keep the scandal within the family,” a smug Jessica told her.
“Gabe isn’t like that,” frowned Parker. “My brother and I talk about everything. I know him.”
Jessica looked at him with pity. “The same brother who lied to you about your father? Who lied to Britney about James starting this whole mess which got her father put in prison?”
Britney stepped forward, grabbing Parker by the arm. “Did James really get my dad put in prison?”
