The Sandstone Affair (An Erotic Romance Novel) (24 page)

“But you—”

“Later, Kenneth told me they were monitoring
your computer system and you had an absolute bombshell of a story hidden
somewhere. But, they didn’t know who wrote it or what it was about. So when
they took over the office, I came in to try to find it. However, it was a myth.
There wasn’t a story. Blake was using me as a pawn to hurt you and help him
drive up his stock with rumors of Ladies World’s new prospects.”

“But there is a…” I begin to say when the odd
blond woman in the room coughs loudly. It stops my mouth long enough for me to
realize I shouldn’t reveal the Wall Street Story until I’m sure Lynx is really
safe. “There are a lot of good stories there.”

“Yes, there are.” Valerie nods with a look of
respect. “You’ve got a great magazine. And that’s why I decided to give the
deposition. When Mark called and said Blake had those pictures I confronted
him. He tried to blackmail me with other pictures he stole. I was so grateful
when Mark called to say you two retrieved them.

“Oh, those,” I mutter, slightly embarrassed
for her to know I’ve seen them. “But that’s not why I came here today. I came
because I like you, I respect you, and I love our rivalry. I think it makes us both
sharper, better editors. But, I want to spar with you on equal ground, as
peers. Kicking you when you’re down, particularly when you’ve been thrown down
by the lies of a corrupt asshole like Blake Stone, isn’t very sporting or
honorable.”

“Thank you,” I say earnestly. I almost reach
out and hug her but a huge “bang” fills the room. Everyone looks to see what’s
going on in the doorway. There stands little Robert Clank, bowtie askew,
sweating and smiling. He’s holding my jail envelope in one hand and my shoes in
the other. It’s the first time I realize I’ve been standing there barefoot. I
feel a blush developing under my skin.

“I thought you might need these, Miss Sharp,”
he gasps. I end up giving him a hug as I lean on his shoulder to put my shoes
back on.

“Hi Val,” Mr. Clank says cordially.

“Robert,” she acknowledges warmly. “How’s our
resident superhero?”

“Oh, another day, another captive set free.”
He laughs. They can tell I’m shocked by the exchange and the fact that a woman
who runs in the top circles of New York society speaks with such familiarity to
this diminutive little cop car chaser who bails out criminals for a living.

“Robert is the angel of uptown,” Valerie
explains to me in a whisper as if revealing the secret to the fountain of youth
known only to a few. “He’s bailed out more of my reporters, photographers and
undercover folks than I can even count. He’s also quite well connected to
streets and boardrooms. Get to know him.”

“I have.” I laugh. Mark makes his way over to
where we are standing. With one arm around Valerie and one around me he guides
us both back to the table.

“Ladies, Kevin has finished signing his
testimony about the computers at Lynx and how they were altered. Paul is almost
ready for Julia to sign the final draft, if you’d come this way,” the bailiff
says.

“Hi, Miss Shark!” Kevin says with a smile,
not seeming to realize his error.

“It’s Sharp, Kevin,” I correct mildly. “Thank
you for helping me today.”

“Sure, sure,” he says enthusiastically.
“Everyone at Lynx misses you so much, and loves working for you. I hope you can
come back soon. We need you.”

I watch his eyes shift from me to the blonde
woman I don’t know. I realize the blonde hair is a hastily donned wig. Her
makeup is thick and doesn’t match either her complexion or her casual dress
which has been accentuated with evening jewelry. Her highly polished black
shoes seem to be a pair of JC Penny Nine-to-Five flats. While Paul is fussing
over pages with the bailiff, I walk over to the mismatched anomaly who might be
a drag queen and try to introduce myself.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t seem—”

The woman, who has been staring at the floor
through most of the morning, gets a thin little smile, her lips pressed
together and her eyes dart wildly toward a corner of the room. My mouth falls
open in horror.

“Over there,” she mutters through clenched
teeth and I realize for the first time she’s shaking. “Let’s go over there.”

Walking to the corner, I can see her
signature short quick step that I’ve watched through my office door a million
times.

“Janice?”

“Okay,” she says sternly. “No need to make a
fuss.”

“Janice, what the hell?”

“I only had an hour to put this together and
I have limited resources. I’ve been out of work the last few weeks, you know.”

“What are you talking about? Why are
you…um…like
this
?”

“I’m you.”

“What?” I burst out laughing. It’s loud
enough to draw attention to our little corner of the room.

“Shhh!” She hushes me with a maternal glare.
“I’ve made it this far. Let’s just get out of this and then forget it ever
happened. I’ve already threatened Kevin with the most painful of deaths if he
ever breathes a word of this anyone.”

“Get out of what? What do you mean you’re
me?”

“Mark called and told me you had been put
back in jail. He said if you didn’t sign these papers everything was lost. I
went over the precinct and it was a wreck. No one would talk to me and there
was nothing I could do. It didn’t look like anyone was getting in or out of
there very fast. It’s quite inefficient, you know.”

“Tell me about it. I’m so ready to do a story
on jail reform.”

“So, I went back home and thought that if you
couldn’t be here to sign the forms that I could be here for you. I mean, look
at that bailiff. His pants crease is crooked, his hair is a disaster and he has
a crust of pastry on his lip. Do you really think he’s taking a good look at
who signs this crap? Hell, he doesn’t even look in the mirror. So I came to
sign for you in case you didn’t make it.”

This isn’t the first time today I’ve heard
something unbelievable, but my heart is actually pounding as I process what she
is telling me.

“Janice! That’s perjury. Lying to a court is
a federal crime!” Now, I’m whispering. “You could go to prison if you got
caught.”

“Duh,” she says rolling her eyes. “I’m aware
of that. I watch Law and Order too, you know.”

“You would have...” I pause to let the
reality of this wash over me in an overwhelming wave of humility and gratitude.
“You would have gone to prison for me?”

“Of course I would, Julia. You’re family to
me, and a better sister than my real sister. I love you.”

“Miss Julia Sharp, step forward,” the bailiff
calls. I wish Janice hadn’t pointed out the pastry because now that’s all I’m
going to see.

“Tell me one thing,” I say to her quickly as
I turn to sign the rejoinder. I point out her ludicrous disguise from head to
toe. “Do I really look like that?”

Hands on her hips, lips pursed, she answers
me in her loving, droll fashion.

“Honey, you look a lot worse.”

I laugh and walk over to the bailiff. Paul explains
each form I’m signing and points out the many initials and signatures required.
The bailiff says he will now present the documents to the court and we will be
seen momentarily.

Finally, after all the tears, danger,
laughter, running, fighting, and hoping…our moment has arrived and it will be
settled one way or another. I give Mark a huge hug and feel his strength as he
stands with me, his arm around me in public. No more hiding, no more lies.

His lips brush my cheek in a quick kiss as we
stop, frozen in the moment. I look around at the motley crew assembled for what
may well be the defining decision in the future of my career. Paul—my attorney,
passionate and gifted, Valerie—a powerful rival, now a respected peer, Kevin—a
symbol of my employees, loyal and willing, Robert Clank—needed and able, ready
to help. Janice—my best friend, full of love and courage, and Mark.

Mark—my lover, my light, my friend, my
strength, my mentor, my… soul mate. I nestle myself against his strong body and
smile at this family of friends. I’ve been through a lot, my company lost, my
father gone, my inner self challenged and exposed. Through it all, I finally
understand, I have never been alone.

“Thank you, all,” I say with a full heart.
“No matter what happens, thank you.”

The large double doors down the hall open and
the untidy bailiff with the big booming voice calls out.

“Sharp versus Sandstone Ventures. Proponents
step forward and be heard.”

The warmth of the bailiff’s signing room
stands in direct contrast to the coolness of court. I’m sitting with Paul at
the proponent’s table. Because it is a rejoinder the defender’s table is empty,
which lifts my spirits because if I had to look at Blake Stone and watch him
worm his way into getting Lynx, I think I would end up getting arrested for a
third and final strike.

Mark and Kevin sit behind me, with Valerie
and Mr. Clank behind them. I think she purposely didn’t sit with Mark, but it
wouldn’t matter if she did. Throughout this crisis, I finally managed to cross
the line. When I saw Valerie and thought she was getting ownership of Lynx, I
was furious but I knew Mark had nothing to do with it, or if he did, it was for
the best. I trusted him instinctively. I don’t know if he noticed that or not,
but it sure made me feel good.

The good news is that I don’t have to say
anything unless asked. Paul lays out our case that Blake as the co-president of
Sandstone Ventures had no right to close down Lynx without cause and any cause
he could produce would be unfounded due to the fact he compromised Lynx’s
accounts for his own embezzlement scheme. Paul did a masterful job showing the
links between Blake, Kenneth, the computer program, and the legal maneuvering
Blake used to push me out of the way. Valerie and Kevin both rise in their
seats and affirm their testimony about Blake’s misdeeds. The judge then gets to
the records and graphs which show the “how” of the embezzlement.

“Mr. Mark Stone, please approach the
proponents table,” the judge say, flipping back and forth through the pages on
his desk. Mark rises and comes about the table, placing his hand on my shoulder
because he can tell I’m concerned.

“Mr. Stone, did you supply these numbers,
charts and records for this rejoinder?”

“Yes, your honor,” Mark says without waiting
for Paul to give him a nod. Mark’s clearly used to making his own way in the
world.

“Considering the fact I’ve heard all about
stolen photographs, illegal internet connections and unlawfully obtained
information in this case, would you please verify for me that you obtained this
evidence in a clearly legal and above-board fashion?”

My mind flashes to Mark, placing the fake
folder in the bookshelf and taking the real one while I am offering sexual
favors to his brother. There was nothing clear, legal or above board about any
of it. If he lies, it’s perjury. That may not send him to jail but it would
certainly ruin his reputation as an investor and venture capitalist. I bite my
lip and look at Paul, who doesn’t seem afraid in the slightest.

“I am the co-president of Sandstone Ventures.
I have just as much right to the records of my company as my brother Blake
Stone. They were my documents to take, and mine to turn over to the court, your
honor.”

“Mr. Stone, don’t you find it a conflict of
interest that a co-president of Sandstone Ventures is standing on the
proponent’s side of this rejoinder?”

“Not at all, Sir.” The judge may have legal
authority, but Mark clearly owns this room. “I am standing on the side of what
is legal, what is fair, and what is morally right. Nothing about Sandstone’s
position in regard to the transfer of Lynx Magazine or the firing of Miss Sharp
can say that.”

“Thank you, Mr. Stone.” The judge nods,
satisfied with the answer. I let out a long-held breath, and smile when I hear Mark
call me by my business name. I’ve gotten used to being just “Julia.” Mark takes
the seat next to me at the table, places his assuring hand on my leg and winks
at me when no one else seems to be looking. God, I love this man!

“I have reviewed this packet completely and I
am ready for a ruling,” the judge says as a court stenographer takes down every
word. The bailiff stands up very straight, allowing me to see that Janice was
right, his crease is crooked. The judge clears his throat.