Temptation

Chapter Ten Lawyers & Texts

A couple of hours later, they had an appointment with a law firm specializing in divorces with a lot of five-star reviews. When the lawyer they were talking to found out they were on the other side of the same affair and were friends, she offered to represent them both, explaining they could be billed together because it was all the same background work and paperwork. After a brief discussion, Tenn and Quinn agreed.

“I'm willing to take on your case, so I'll send you some paperwork for you both to sign, send it back with your proof, and I'll take it from there. Would you both be open to a financial audit?”

“I would be,” Quinn said. “We think Joel might have bought her a Porsche.”

Deedee Granger choked on her coffee and began coughing. “Wow. Okay. How do your finances work?”

“We have a joint account for bills and a joint savings account, but we have our fun money accounts. I haven't noticed anything strange in the billing account, but he's recently been putting less in the savings account. I never really questioned it because, while he does get a salary, it's relatively low unless he's getting a commission for selling a car.” Quinn explained.

“But you don't have anything to hide, right? Because if I subpoena his finances, they will subpoena yours.”

“No. Nothing.” She paused. “Well, my brother owns our house, and I pay him rent, but he puts it aside for me.”

“What your brother does with the money you give him is his business, not your husband's. Does your husband pay him rent?”

“No, just me, and it comes out of my account.”

“Then it's none of his business.” Deedee reaffirmed. “Tenn, how would you feel about a financial audit?”

“She was unemployed for two years to “find herself” using my money, so a financial audit sounds great. I do have a prenup though.” The resentment Tenn felt over that was hard to let go. Until the David Grant fiasco, he had been happy to try to help her move on from her grief, but after that whole thing, he just felt used.

“Okay, send me a copy of that as well, and I'll see you both on Friday to go over the game plan.”

“Thanks, DeeDee.” They ended the call, and Quinn let out a sigh of relief.

“That lifts a huge weight off my shoulders. Hopefully, by Friday, we'll have a timeline on when this will end.”

“Hopefully.” Tenn opened his email and began printing the documents Deedee sent them. “Do you have access to all the proof?”

“I can access most of it from my drive.” She nodded.

“Here,” he stood up. “Jump on and download it all. I need to run to my car and get the stuff my PI got for me.” As they passed each other, he pulled her into a hug. “It's good to see you.”

Quinn relaxed into his embrace with a soft sigh. “You too.” Tenn let her go reluctantly and ran out to his car. When he returned, she was sitting at the computer wearing a huge smile.

“What?” Tenn's smile in response to her was automatic. Her smile just made him want to smile.

“Want to read what they had to say after last night?”

“Fuck yes.” Tenn hurried around the desk and leaned down over her shoulder. It might have been his imagination or wishful thinking, but he was sure she adjusted slightly so she was leaning toward him like she was unconsciously searching for contact with him.

I can't believe how close we were to almost being caught. No more sex at our homes. It's not sexy or exciting; it's nerve-wracking.

How are you feeling?

Yeah, sure. We'll keep having sex in cheap hotels and the backseats of our cars.

Shitty. My back hurts; everything hurts. I'm not looking forward to work tomorrow.

How are you feeling?

Pretty sure I sprained my wrist and ankle.

Tenn and I had a huge fight, and he kicked me out of the bedroom. He said I had to fix our issues or make an appt with w/a marriage counsellor so we could divorce.

Quinn moved to the spare bedroom. Same thing: fix it or get out.

We could end things and be together.

We could

OMG! You want to fix it!

I like my life ?????♂?

Do you like being married to a frigid woman who doesn't give you what you need?

At least she never faked it with me!

Bullshit! And for the record, I wasn't faking! I love you, and I want us to be together!

We'll have nothing. We'll have to give up the cars and our houses. Even though Quinn was mad at me, she still fucking looked after me!

“You did?” Tenn looked up quickly.

“Come on, he hit hard and could barely move. So, I got him muscle relaxers and rubbed icy hot on his back.” She smiled wickedly. “And told him the room reeked, made fun of his “porn” choices again, reiterated she was faking and trying to sound like a child.”

“Right.” Tenn shook his head. “I told Viki she should go to the hospital.” He went back to the text exchange, trying to squash his irritation.

So? We'd have each other!

Grow up, Vik. I'm used to a standard of living.

So am I! Apply for the manager's position.

I get more money from commissions.

Only when you actually sell cars.

I'm going to pretend this conversation never happened. It was a figment of my drugged-up brain. You're going to remember you only have your job because of me, show a little gratitude, give up on this love overcoming all bullshit, and remember our agreement. Good night, Viki.

You're an ass.

VIKI!!!

Good night

Asshole

“Trouble in paradise,” Tenn smirked. “I wonder what their agreement was?”

“Probably something like the affair doesn't mess with the home life.” Quinn shrugged. “Come on, let's get this all to Deedee.” When they finished it and sent it to the lawyer, ending up putting it all in a folder on Google Drive and just sharing it with her instead of sending her ten emails, Quinn leaned back and stretched. “What time are you done?”

“At five. You aren't working today?” Tenn tried to keep his eyes on her face as she stretched, her breasts rising and pushing out as she arched her back and failed miserably. She was killing him without even trying.

“I went in this morning, told my boss what was going on, and she gave me two weeks paid leave to handle everything. We're at the end of the Spring term, so we're not busy. Everyone is just hiding in the library studying. We mostly handle meltdowns in the quiet room this time of year.” She shook her head with a small smile.

“Right.” Tenn chuckled. “Yeah, I really don't miss the end-of-term exam anxiety.”

“Yeah, me either.” She grinned at him and then tilted her head, her smile and eyes softening as she studied his face. “You have a great smile.”

“Thanks.” Tenn blinked in surprise and felt his cheeks heat up. He couldn't remember the last time a woman had complimented him. He cleared his throat, unsure how to react. “I did clear my afternoon in case the lawyer shopping took a while; want to put together the proposal?”

“Yeah, let's get it done.” Quinn nodded, looking very amused at his reaction to her compliment. “Then I have to go shopping for ingredients and get back to the house to start dinner.”

“What are you cooking?” Tenn pulled a chair around so she was sitting next to him, facing his computer, pulled up a Word document, and began to type.

“Korean Beef Sloppy Joes with Honey Butter Fries.” She leaned forward, read what he was typing, and compared it to her notes on her phone.

“Sounds delicious.” He paused, wondering how much she’d be willing to share about her food issues. “Can I ask a question?” He moved his hands as Quinn took over typing to add something.

“Of course.” She finished what she wanted to add, and he jumped back in.

“Can you explain your relationship with food?”

She let out a soft sigh. “I'm obsessed with food. I love food. I love new recipes. I love to cook, feed people, and see their joy when they taste something that makes them feel something. But I hate my lack of control around it. I want to eat; I want it all to myself, but because I was always shamed for what I was eating or how much I was eating, I struggle sometimes. When I spiral, I feel disgusted with myself when I'm finished and like I need to purge it from my system. I hate throwing up, so I purge it by taking laxatives and exercising.”

“I'm sure I can feel the calories changing to fat and can see my body growing as I watch, and to cope, I exercise until I collapse and eat lettuce until I see the change in my mirror. And the whole time I'm doing that, I dream about eating an entire lemon blueberry cheesecake or a big, medium rare, sirloin steak covered in honey garlic barbecue sauce, with a baked potato loaded with sour cream, butter, chives, and cheese, and corn on the cob dripping with butter.” She grinned. “Guess what my last meal would be?”

“Sounds like a great last meal to me, Flac?r?.” Tenn smiled, but inside, he was planning the unsolved murder of her mother and father.

“Right?” Quinn laughed. “So yeah. It's a complicated relationship that's abusive on my part. I have to focus on the pleasure and joy I get while eating rather than the shame and disgust I feel after eating. I've surrounded myself with people who build me up and cut contact with those who brought me down.”

“Was that why you almost divorced Joel before?”

Quinn nodded. “When I met Joel, I was restricting myself, and I was pretty skinny.” She paused, looking thoughtful. “I was also blonde. Anyway.” She shook her head. “We dated, and I was, in my mind, balancing things pretty well. He got concerned when he could see my ribs, brought it to Quill's attention, and I ended up hospitalized for a while. At first, when I got out, he was very concerned, met with my doctors, learned my triggers, said he would help me however he could, and was an amazing support. We got married; I was still pretty small but recovering well. I thought everything was great.”

Then, three years ago, he told me I was letting myself go and getting fat, among other things, and I spiralled hard. One month, he told me he loved my curves; the next, I was fat and needed to control myself. He used all my triggers, didn't tell Quill I was spiralling, and even limited my time with him so he wouldn't notice. I ended up hospitalized again, and he later explained he thought he would be able to control it. He was concerned I was gaining too much and triggered me so I would lose weight, thinking that when I got back to the size he wanted me at, he would start praising me, and I would start eating again. It didn't work; he didn't want to admit to what he did, and I ended up in the hospital with a heart condition.”

“Quill nearly killed him. He was arrested for assault, but Joel wouldn't press charges. He begged for my forgiveness, said he handled it all wrong, and the thought that he was going to lose me made him suicidal. He went to counselling, met with my team again, did everything he could to prove he would be better, and he has been mostly better, at least until he met Viki.”

“If I was in your life then, I would have joined Quill in beating his ass.” Tenn was livid. “What a fucking prick!”

“That he is.” Quinn smiled. “Are we good with the proposal?”

“Yeah. We're good.” He grumbled as he folded his arms and leaned back in his chair, glaring at the screen. He didn't know if he would ever be able to be in the same room with Joel without punching him in the face.

“Stop being mad.” Quinn chuckled. “I'm doing really well now.”

“Quinn, he deliberately made you sick so you would be what he wanted.” Tenn reached out and cupped her face. “When he should love you for who you are. All of you. Every fucking gorgeous inch of you.” He watched as her cheeks turned red and fought the urge to crush her lips beneath his, instead opting to pull her in for a tight hug. “And every inch is fucking gorgeous.”

“I'm gonna have to keep you around.” She chuckled as she leaned into him. “You're just a constant boost of confidence.” He heard her swallow as he rubbed her back gently. “Viki doesn't deserve you.”

“And she'll lose me.” Tenn pulled back. “Come on, let's send the proposal, and I'll let you go do what you have to do for tonight and get there as soon as I can.”

“Take your time; I'll be cooking. The company is always welcome, but don't feel like you have to be there.”

“I want to be.” When she left, Tenn picked up his phone and called his sister-in-law. “Hey Trisha, I need a favour.”