Chapter 15 #2
Chelsea sighed. “Kaden, if Miss Z comes in and fusses about the cookie sheet we haven’t washed yet, tell her I’ll be back after my meeting with Jagger.”
“’Kay.”
“I’ll help finish up.” Mrs. Stanton appeared from nowhere. Chelsea always wondered how she knew she was needed.
Chelsea dried her hands on a cloth and then followed Grayson to Jagger’s office.
She felt like she was in trouble and being sent to the principal’s office.
She wracked her brain, trying to determine why he and Miss Z disliked her so much.
Even Mrs. Stanton was cool toward her. Did they think she was low class?
Were they suspicious of the quick wedding?
They couldn’t think she’d trapped Jagger as she’d been clear she wasn’t pregnant.
Maybe they thought she was using some other ploy.
Of course, that would mean they believed Jagger could be duped, but he was too worldly for that.
So maybe they thought she was a gold digger, or were just overprotective of Jagger.
Regardless, she was Jagger’s wife. Shouldn’t that come with some base level of respect from them? If she could pretend to be in a loving marriage, they could pretend to be respectful.
Except, she wasn’t in a real marriage. Chelsea realized she wasn’t any different from them. Jagger had even said so. “I’ve paid a fortune to have you act as my loving wife.” She worked for Jagger just as they did. The only difference was she was sleeping with him.
She groaned at her stupidity. She’d told herself to keep the relationship businesslike, to not muddy the waters, but she’d tossed that aside when he’d looked at her with those mesmerizing devilish blue eyes that promised sensual delights beyond her wildest dreams. She should regret having wild, wonderful sex with him, but she couldn’t muster it.
Every woman deserved to experience spectacular sex at least once in their life.
She’d had her brief fling and now she needed to put the kibosh on it.
Grayson knocked on the door, opening when Jagger invited him in. “Mrs. Talbot, sir.”
She was being announced to her husband. How surreal was that? She held back a snort. Grayson acted as if Jagger was king of the world.
“Send her in, Grayson.”
Plastering on a smile, Chelsea entered Jagger’s office. He stood from his desk when she entered, looking like a ruthless businessman, despite the fact he was in jeans and a T-shirt. An older woman with smart shrewd eyes dressed in a light blue tailored suit turned from her chair.
“Chelsea, this is Mrs. Monroe, my attorney in Kaden’s case.”
“Mrs. Talbot.” Mrs. Monroe stood and took Chelsea’s hand in a firm handshake.
“Mrs. Monroe.”
Jagger motioned for Chelsea to sit in the chair next to Mrs. Monroe as he moved to stand behind her. He rested his hands on her shoulders and she couldn’t decide if it was meant as a loving, husbandly gesture or a way to let her know her role in this situation.
“You were just making cookies with Kaden?” Mrs. Monroe sat.
“Yes. I’m sorry, I should have brought you some.”
“I’m on a new no-sugar diet. My family says it makes me grumpy.”
Chelsea smiled but wasn’t interested in small talk.
“This is just the type of thing we need to make sure the court knows about. All the wonderful enriching activities Kaden has living with you. A mother who is a teacher and bakes cookies—”
“I’m not Kaden’s mother.”
Jagger’s fingers dug into her shoulders.
She tried not to wince at the pressure. “I just...I know his birth mother isn’t able to raise him, and I enjoy caring for Kaden, but I don’t feel comfortable erasing the fact that another woman brought him into the world.”
“He sees you as his mother.” Jagger kept a firm grip on her shoulders.
She tilted her head up. “He sees me as a mother figure and you as a father figure.”
“That’s what’s important,” Mrs. Monroe said. “You’re the only parents he knows. That will count for something, especially since his mother abandoned him.”
“I’m certain he doesn’t remember her,” Jagger said.
“Quite a way to start a new marriage, eh?” Mrs. Monroe said.
Chelsea nodded, unsure how to respond.
“Being married to you, a woman with deep roots to the community, a teacher, no less, can only help his case.”
Chelsea smiled but felt certain Mrs. Monroe was on to them. Or maybe Jagger had told her.
“As his wife, it’s important that you’re involved in this as well.”
I told you so, flickered through Chelsea’s mind, but she kept her smile in place. “Jagger is the one with guardianship. He makes the decisions regarding Kaden, though, of course, I’ll support him no matter what.”
“Excellent. You should attend court with him and be present when the guardian ad litem makes her visit to interview you.”
“Of course.”
“The birth mother will ask for visitation during the investigative period—”
“No.” Jagger balked at the idea.
Mrs. Monroe raised a hand in a calming gesture.
“I’ll work to stop it, but she is the mother.
If she’s able to prove she’s made changes, it’s likely the judge will allow some sort of visitation.
I’ll suggest it be limited and supervised.
We’ll ask for regular drug testing during the process, as well.
If she trips up, the case will be easily decided in your favor. ”
“Kaden doesn’t know her.”
“Mr. Talbot, the odds of a judge granting some sort of visit with the birth mother are extremely high, unless she misses court or shows up on drugs. You need to be prepared to make some concessions.”
Chelsea couldn’t see Jagger’s face, but she didn’t have to, to know he didn’t like what he was hearing. Tension radiated off him in waves.
“Maybe we can cross that bridge when we get to it.” Chelsea placed a hand over Jagger’s.
“I told you, Mr. Talbot. Even with a wife, this will be an uphill battle if Kaden’s mom has pulled her life together. You need to be ready for that. In the meantime, I’ve got someone investigating her and maybe we’ll have something to use against her.”
Chelsea frowned. An investigator? She supposed poking into the “enemy’s” business was normal, but it felt mean and underhanded.
“Her side will likely be doing the same. Granted, she doesn’t have the financial resources you do, but every library has a stash of old tabloids filled with your exploits, Mr. Talbot.”
Jagger flinched. “That’s not my life now.”
Immediately, Chelsea’s mind flashed to the phoenix he wore like a talisman. A symbol of his new life. Of his commitment to Kaden.
“No. But she’s saying the same thing about her life. Also, Mrs. Talbot will be a target for them as well.”
This time Chelsea flinched. “I’ve got no skeletons.” Of course, that was partly why Jagger had chosen her. It was another reminder of her role. She worked for Jagger.
“Good to hear.” Mrs. Monroe stood. “I’ll be in touch before court next week. Just a reminder, Mr. Talbot, you’ll want to wear a nice suit, but not one that makes you look like a ruthless businessman. Mrs. Talbot, dress like a mom.”
“Uh, okay.” Chelsea had no idea what that meant. Most of the moms she knew wore yoga pants and T-shirts. Certainly, that wasn’t what Mrs. Monroe was hinting at.
“Let me show you out.” Jagger stepped from behind Chelsea.
“No, no. I can see myself out.” She waved away Jagger’s offer as she headed out the door.
Chelsea gave her a head start before standing to exit his office.
“Give me a minute.” Jagger went to the door, looked out, and then shut it so they were in private.
“I need to finish cleaning up the cookie mess before Miss Z gets all riled up again.”
“I’ll handle her. You’re my wife, and she needs to treat you as such.”
Chelsea shook her head. “Actually, I’m no different from her or Grayson or Mrs. Stanton. I work for you, just like they do.”
Jagger’s brows pulled together in a frown. “That’s not true.”
“It is. This marriage is a business deal. You paid a fortune for me, remember?”
He blanched at having his words thrown back at him.
“My part is to serve as your wife and a mother figure to Kaden.”
“That’s how you see things between us?”
“That’s how they are. I suspect your staff knows or guesses at the truth. I got a big payday without having to do too much. Mostly I play with Kaden. Plus I sleep with the boss. No wonder they don’t like me.”
“Don’t say it like that.” Anger reddened his cheeks. “You make it sound sordid.”
His response made her think he saw this as more than a marriage of convenience, but she quickly dismissed the thought. He was attracted to her, and probably cared for her as well. But it wasn’t love. She couldn’t let her silly dreams of a real family cloud the truth.
“Our sleeping together isn’t sordid, but it’s also not what this marriage is about. I forgot myself today. It’s not my place to challenge you, as I did earlier, and I should have no expectation to be treated better by your staff, since I’m essentially staff as well.”
His jaw clenched. “You were right that you need to be a part of this custody case. You’re my wife. You should expect the staff to respect that.” He stepped toward her, but she retreated.
“I play your wife, so I need to look and act the part, but I’m not your wife in the real sense of the word. Not in a way that gives me any power.”
He stared at her as if she’d grown a third eye. But he didn’t contradict her. He couldn’t, because she was right. She’d simply reiterated all they’d agreed to when they concocted this crazy plan. He met his part of the deal, and she’d do better to meet hers.
“I want you to share your ideas and opinions with me.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
“I want you to feel comfortable living here. I want you to make cookies with Kaden or do whatever you want without being hassled by the staff. I’ll make sure they know that.”
Chelsea nodded, but she wasn’t going to hold her breath. Jagger stepped toward her again, and she retreated, lifting her hand to stop him.
“We’re back to that, then?” His dark blue eyes filled with fiery annoyance.
“Yes.”