A Woman Scorned

Chapter 7

Mel looked around the small conference room which appeared to double as a lunch room for Kinnetik’s employees.  The room was neat, minimalist yet warm and functional.  Along one wall was a coffee and tea ‘bar’ complete with a mini-refrigerator for milk and cream.  It appeared no expense was spared.  Mel had been given a tour of the building so she knew that there was also a pantry with a full sized refrigerator so that the staff could stow their lunches as necessary too.  She snorted, typical Brian Kinney, throwing his money around.  But Melanie had to admit, the employees all appeared happy and content.  It certainly showed in their revenue.

Mel was asked to wait there and to help herself to coffee which she did.  There was a vast choice of blends a la the Kinney obsession with coffee.  She chose a mid-range blend then looked around the room as she sipped from her cup.  The opposite wall of the room was adorned with framed photos of building fronts.  At first Melanie was unsure what she was looking at.  The pictures were not the usual stock wall art that some firms chose for their decor.  She moved closer to the first one.  A small brass tag was attached to the bottom of the frame.  “Kinnetik Part Deux” it read.  The building reminded Mel of an old hotel or worse a bordello.  Then she realized that’s exactly what it was.  Brian had turned an old bath house into Kinnetik, so Mel wasn’t surprised that he had the balls to turn an old whorehouse into another Kinnetik branch.

The next three pictures surprised her.  “Kinnetik Perspectives” was housed in a sleek LA office building.  While “Kinnetik N’rgy” was in a lovely New York City brownstone.  The last picture almost took Mel’s breath away.  “Kinnetik Isles” was housed in a beautiful London Victorian building.  Melanie almost expected to see Sherlock Holmes entering the door.

Mel stood gazing at the pictures, sipping her coffee and pondering what life had yet in store for her.

*****

“Are you out of your mind?” Cynthia half shouted and half whispered at Ted.

“She’s a lawyer.  She’s a very good lawyer.  She’s smart and has the freedom to fly out to places we can’t.”

“But does she know the advertising business?”

“She knows enough, and what she doesn’t know we can teach her,” Ted insisted.  “Besides, she did help Brian with that little trouble he had years ago.”  Ted was referring to the Kip Thomas debacle.

“Using a ‘Brian doesn’t have to pay for it’ defence has nothing to do with advertising!” Cynthia hissed.  “Well maybe it does,” she said after a while when she thought about it.  “What am I saying?!  Brian will kill you and then me when he finds out that I went along with this.”

“He won’t be killing anyone, we just have to come up with an airtight, no loophole...”

“Excuse for our temporary insanity?” Cynthia interjected.

“No, reasons.  Valid reasons and justifications.  Look he agreed to having a lawyer in the position.  She’ll be able to negotiate contracts on the spot.  He also stipulated he wanted a mature person.  Uh uh uh,” Ted held up his hand forestalling Cynthia’s protests.  “I know that goes against all HR practices but we haven’t advertised the position.  And no one has applied via the feelers we leaked out.”

“Yeah, well no one in his right mind wants to deal with His Majesty on a regular basis,” Cynthia muttered.

“Be that as it may, Kinnetik has a reputation for hiring...”

“Crazy people like you and me.  Ted I get it and I get Melanie would be the perfect choice except for one minor detail.”

“What’s that?”

“She is Melanie Marcus!  His arch enemy.  His nemesis going back what...?  For twenty years they’ve been at each other’s throats.”

“And yet he did everything he could to keep Mel and Lindsay together when he thought that’s what they wanted.  Please, Cyn, let’s give this a chance.  I’ll even drive to the lane this weekend and personally break it to him.”

“And I’ll call Justin to warn him,” Cynthia snarked.

“So, can I show her into your office?” Ted asked using the most sincere voice and best puppy dog eyes he could muster.

“Yeah, sure.  Give me a minute to compose myself then show her in.  I don’t know how I let you talk me into these things,” Cynthia shook her head as she mumbled.  Ted scurried out to show in their guest.

*****

“JR.  JR?  Jenny Rebecca!” Michael practically shouted at his daughter to get her attention.  She was standing behind the counter of the shop staring off into space.

“Huh?  Did you want me, Daddy?” she asked, totally oblivious.

“Are you okay, Honey Bun?” Michael asked as he patted her hand.  “You seem distracted,” was all Michael could think of saying.  He still wasn’t sure what to think about JR’s revelation at Thanksgiving.  His mother seemed to take it all in stride.  Melanie was ecstatic.  The rest of the family that were present weren’t all that surprised.  After all JR did get a double dose of the ‘gay gene.’  Michael wasn’t sure of his own feelings about it.  Several times he found himself reaching for the phone to call Brian but he was still pissed that Brian knew Mel had moved back to Pittsburgh and failed to notify Michael first.

“I’m fine, Daddy,” JR said as she removed the money from the till.  They were going to the bank to make a deposit before they went home for the night.

“Are you sure?  You don’t look fine,” Michael gently said.

“I am, I promise,” she said as she went to get her coat and scarf. 

The bank wasn’t far so they were going to walk.  It was cold so they both bundled up.  While Michael had completely recovered from his Chronic Fatigue Syndrome he found that the cold affected him more than before.  He took his time to dress in several layers for protection.

“I have an idea.  I really don’t feel like cooking tonight.  Why don’t I call Ben to see if he can meet us at the diner.  We’ll eat there tonight.  What do you think?” he asked while he took out his phone.

“Sure, Daddy,” JR replied as she locked up the store.  Michael sighed, he could tell that JR’s head was still in the clouds.  He wondered if his daughter would ever be grounded again.

*****

"So what do you think of our offer?” Cynthia asked Melanie.  She and Ted had discussed their proposal to Melanie.  Mel sat back in her chair stunned that they were actually considering her for the position when they knew her history with Brian.

“Does HE know about this?” Melanie asked before she answered Cynthia’s question.  She could tell that neither Ted nor Cynthia had discussed the matter with Brian.

“Honestly, no,” Cynthia replied before Ted could speak.  “Quite frankly I have my doubts that you and Brian can get past your history to ever work effectively together, but Ted thinks otherwise.  And if Brian says no, I won’t fight him on it.  Bottom line, this is his company and I have too much respect for him to argue this particular case.”

Melanie nodded.  She found the position intriguing but very different from the law she was used to practising.  She’d have to hit the books regarding business law not to mention really learning the advertising business.  And the mere thought of working for Brian was giving her hives.  Plus, she wasn’t sure what she’d do if her path crossed with Lindsay’s.  They had parted on such stressful and difficult terms.  Justin still played an active role in the gallery and the gallery was now run by Lindsay.  Mel’s head was spinning.

“Why don’t you take the weekend to think about it.  While we really want to move forward with this we don’t have any other candidate in mind at this time.  We hadn’t planned on formally advertising the position until after the first of the year,” Cynthia assured Melanie.  “You have time to think about it.”

“I have to admit, I’m intrigued.  But this is so far from left field that there are many variables to consider, including reporting to Brian.”  Mel did her best not to sneer. 

Cynthia chuckled.  “Actually we’re more of a collective.  We do have department heads but everyone has input.   If it helps, you’d be reporting directly to me.  Brian rarely interferes with the daily running of the business.  He’s taken a more global approach, nurturing each branch so that they reach their full potential,” Cynthia explained. 

Mel couldn’t help but snort at the thought of Brian nurturing anything except for his own ego and sexual appetites.  “Pardon me,” Mel covered with a cough.

“Don’t worry about it, he’s still not completely human and that’s probably what makes him so good at his job,” Cynthia said with an amused smirk.  “Ted, do you have anything to add?”

“I, uh, no, except that I’ll go to the lane this weekend and talk to Brian about it.  I have all the figures with me,” Ted said as he waved an elegant portfolio in the air.  “I’ll make our proposal to him myself.”

“You’re a better man than I am, Schmidt,” Melanie paraphrased.  "You may want to take a first aid kit with you or anti-venom," she mumbled.  Ted gave her a thin lipped smile as Mel stood to shake Cynthia’s hand.

“We’ll talk again on Monday,” Cynthia suggested.  Ted showed Melanie out of Kinnetik.

*****

Michael and JR slid into a booth at the back of the diner.

"What can I get you?" Lacy asked as she hurried over. 

"We're waiting for Ben," Michael said.

"I'll have a Diet Coke," JR stated.

"Me too," Michael added.

"Daddy!" JR intervened.  "You know soda isn't the best thing for you," she reminded her father.  They were all happy that Michael's health was as good as it was, but he still needed to be careful, and some foods could prove to be triggers.

"Okay, okay," Michael relented.  "I'll have a milkshake - chocolate."

"That's not the best thing either," JR couldn't help but say.  "But it's better than soda."

Michael made a face at her.  He didn't like being reminded of his long and difficult illness.  He knew his daughter was right.  He felt better when he watched what he ate and drank, but that didn't mean he had to like it.  It was okay to splurge every once in a while.  "That will tide us over until Ben gets here."

"Coming right up," Lacy said before heading to the counter to fill their drink orders.

"Daddy, you know you're supposed to be careful with what you eat and drink," JR chastised her father.

"Sometimes I get tired of doing what I'm supposed to do."

"Me too," JR giggled.  "Who's that?" JR asked as a blonde young woman walked by the table and gave JR the once over.  JR couldn't take her eyes off the girl as she slid suggestively onto a stool at the counter.

"How should I know?" Michael asked not at all pleased by his daughter's question.

"She's gorgeous," JR whispered unable to take her eyes off the girl.

"And she's trouble," Lacy said as she set down their drinks and followed JR's line of vision.

"Why?" JR wanted to know.

"Well, how can I put this?  Ask your father what your Uncle Brian was like back in the day.  She'd run him a close second."  Lacy walked away shaking her head.

"Uncle Brian?" JR asked her father.

"You've heard the stories about the Stud of Liberty Avenue," Michael said making a face.

"You mean ... they're true?"  Michael nodded.  "But I thought people just liked to razz him.  I didn't believe..."

"Believe it!" Michael stated emphatically.

"Wow!"

"Lacy was trying to warn you, Honey Bun," Michael said trying to advise his daughter.  "Sometimes a pretty face hides an evil heart."

"Are you calling Uncle Brian evil?"

"If the Prada fits..."

"Hey guys, what's up?" Ben asked as he sat down beside Michael and gave his husband a kiss on the cheek.

"Daddy just called Uncle Brian evil," JR said with a snicker.

"Michael!"

"I didn't exactly say that," Michael backtracked.

"Uh uh, I bet you didn't," Ben said.  "I thought you were going to stop fixating on the fact that Brian didn't tell you that Mel was back."

"That isn't what this is about."

"Then what is it about?" Ben asked.

Michael nodded toward JR who had stopped talking and was making eye contact with the blonde beauty drinking coffee at the counter.  "Lacy says that girl is trouble, just like Brian used to be."

"Oh?  Oh!"  Ben stared at his daughter.  "Are they...?"

"I don't know what's going on, but they seem interested in each other and that's not a good thing."

"JR!" Ben said firmly bringing his daughter back into the conversation.  "Have you guys ordered yet?"

"Just drinks," JR replied not looking at Ben and batting her eyelashes at the girl at the counter.

"JR, JR!" Ben said.  When JR finally turned her attention to her father, he asked, "What do you want to eat?"

"Um, I think I'll have a salad.  I should watch my figure."

"So other people will watch it too?" Ben asked.

"Precisely," JR responded with a smile more directed at the girl at the counter than at her father.

Said girl stood up and dropped some money on the counter.  As she passed JR's booth, she said, "I'm Jacqueline.  Here's my number."  She slipped JR a piece of paper.  "Call me when you're ready."

And then she disappeared out the door of the diner.

"Wow!" JR exclaimed.  "She's smooth."

"Young lady, you are not to have anything more to do with that ... that woman!" Michael commanded.

"Daddy, I'm an adult," JR informed him.  "I can do whatever I want."

"But..."

"She's right, Michael," Ben said gently.  "She is an adult.  But she's also a smart young lady.  I'm sure you'll make good decisions.  Just be careful, JR," he said gently placing his hand over hers.

"I'm not going to do anything foolish," JR stated.  "I probably won't even call her ... but she was cute."

"She's too old for you," Michael said.

"Let it go, Michael.  JR will have to decide on her own."

"But..."

"What'll you have?" Lacy asked as she came to their table. 

They placed their orders, both men noting that JR did indeed order a salad.

Lacy had just brought their meals, all of them having sat in awkward silence while they waited for their food, when the door of the diner opened.  JR turned to see who it was, hoping just a little bit that it might be Jacqueline returning.  To her surprise it was someone else she knew.

"Mommy!" she called before she could stop herself.  She heard some of the people in the diner chuckle at her use of the babyish term.  Her face blossomed red in embarrassment.

"Hi, Honey," Mel said in a tired voice.  "Ben, Michael."

"You sound exhausted," Ben observed.

"It's been quite the day," Mel admitted.

"Care to join us?  Ow!" Ben reacted as Michael kicked him under the table.

Melanie  quickly figured out what had happened.  "I, um, I don't want to interfere with your dinners," Mel said hesitantly.

"You came in here to eat, didn't you?" Ben insisted giving Michael a glare that said he should be quiet and let Mel join them.

"Well, yeah..."

"Come sit with me, Mom," JR said to her mother.

"If you're sure..."

Ben nodded and when Michael didn't protest further, she slid into the booth next to her daughter.

Lacy appeared immediately and asked Melanie what she would like.  Mel ordered a salad like her daughter, and a cup of coffee. 

"So, what made this 'quite the day'?" Ben asked.

"I may have a job ... and an apartment," Mel said with a big release of a breath.  She took a sip of the coffee Lacy set down in front of her.  "I looked at that apartment on the same floor as you and Katerina," Mel said softly.  She waited for Lacy's reaction.

"The one that John is redoing?"  Mel nodded.  "It's a great building," Lacy said.  "Brian makes sure everything is in working order, and the spaces are so open and full of light."

"I know," Melanie replied.  "I liked the apartment very much, even though it's mostly just walls and construction at the moment."

"It'll be beautiful when it's finished.  It'll be great knowing our neighbor.  The old guy who lived there never spoke to us.  We barely ever saw him."

"I'll try to be just as innocuous as the old man," Melanie said with a wry smile.

"That isn't what I meant," Lacy said quickly.  "Oh, there's your salad.  I asked cook to speed it up so you could eat with the others."  Lacy quickly grabbed the salad from the pass through and placed it in front of Melanie with a little flourish.  "For our new neighbor," she said with a big smile.

"Possible new neighbor," Mel amended before Lacy headed over to take an order from another customer.

"Why did you say possible?" JR asked.  "If you like the apartment, why don't you just get it?"

"Ah, to be young and see things in such a simple fashion," Melanie said with a sigh.

"Can't you afford it?" Michael asked bluntly.  He had been picking at his food, not enjoying it at all since Melanie arrived.

Melanie bristled.  "I can manage once I have a job," she replied in a tart manner.

"So what's the job?" Ben asked.

"I probably shouldn't say anything.  It's not final and I don't want to jinx it."

"You're going to get it, I know you will, Mom," JR said enthusiastically.

"I'm glad someone believes in me," Melanie replied as she gave her daughter a hug.

It was Michael's turn to be upset.  "So, I guess you're really staying ... this time."

"I said I was."

"Things haven't been written in stone in the past," Michael reminded her.

"I admit I've made some mistakes, but hopefully I'm ... older and wiser."

"That remains to be seen," Michael added ungraciously.

"What can you tell us about this possible job?" Ben asked trying to ease into a more neutral subject.

"Oh, I might as well tell you.  What will be will be, as far as the job goes," Melanie said with a shrug.  She really did like the idea of this job.  She really wanted it if the truth be told.  But it all depended on Brian Kinney, and nothing she could say or do at this point was going to change that.  "Ted asked me to come to Kinnetik today.  They're looking for a lawyer for some contract work and to help with negotiations.  I think I could really enjoy working there."

"Working for Brian!?" Michael asked his voice rising an octave.

"Well, yeah, that's kind of the rub in this whole thing.  Ted has to clear it through Brian, and I don't know what his reaction might be."

"I'm sure Brian will consider all your fine points.  You're well qualified for the job," Ben said.  "Brian will make his decision based on business."

"Let me out," Michael said in a nasty voice as he gave Ben a push.

"Hey, where are you going?"

"Let me out ... now!" Michael demanded.

Ben stood up and Michael headed for the door of the diner, pulling his phone from his pocket.

"Michael?" Ben called.

"Dad, what's wrong?" JR wanted to know.

Michael did not respond as he opened the door of the diner and stomped outside.  He pushed the speed dial number on his phone and waited as it rang.

"Hello."

"Brian Kinney, how could you?!  We need to have a serious talk ... immediately!"