CHAPTER 8–DAMIEN’S NEW POSITION

Location: Carolyn and Neil’s Suite

               Carolyn disconnected the call with April and looked at Neil over her shoulder with an amused smile.

               “Would you look at this, Neil? It’s a pen with ink that disappears. She plans to sign the post-nuptial agreement with it. What do you think?” Carolyn asked her fiancé.

               “I’m glad I’m marrying you for love and not for money. Your friend has made you into a dangerous woman. I’d never stand a chance at survival in the legal system or life.”

               “Wait, I thought you liked April.”

               “I do. I like her as a friend. And I’d prefer to keep her as one. It terrifies me to think of her as an enemy. David has a death wish and he’s welcome to it.”

               “He’s attacking my business now and April.”

               “Fine. You won’t be happy until you know both have back up. Am I right?”

               “Oh, you know me too well.”

               “You call the wedding planner and do you magic about this … pen. I’ll call Damien. It won’t be difficult to have him running to her side.”

               “I don’t want another serial cheater chasing her Neil. She’s married to one right now. April doesn’t deserve that.”

               “Caro, honey. Does he have a plus one? No. Ask yourself why? Never mind, I’ll explain. That playboy nonsense is all for his father’s ego. You’ve seen how his father influenced everyone around him. People molded their lives to fit how he saw them. Damien, the playboy, ne’er-do-well. He’s never been that, but no one would believe you if you tried to explain it. No one will believe it. They laugh when he says he must take a call for work. But he does work and he’s successful. His father won’t allow him to talk about it. If he does, then he’ll risk losing his inheritance. Twisted, huh?”

               “But the women in the media?”

               “That’s smoke and mirrors. He’s not dating them. If he found a woman, I think he’d be happy to toss it all aside. Damien wants a woman who’s on his level, which he’s not found. He’s convinced April is a woman on that level and she got away.”

               “Oh, boy. Call him. This should be entertaining.”

                              *****        *****        *****

               “Hello? Neil? I was just heading for bed. Is something wrong?” Damien wasn’t going to bed. But he didn’t tell Neil that. He was glad he got rid of the other call when he did. Any slower, he’d have missed Neil’s call. Damien hadn’t had the chance to dry his hair or style it. At this rate, he’d have to wash it again and start again. This was another reason he’d argued with his stylist about this change. It appeared perfect, modern, and man-of-the-moment. But the upkeep wasn’t practical.

               “Yeah, about that. I need some help. Well, we need help. The truth is April needs help with stuff, but she won’t ask. Caro’s worried because it’s become a problem for their business.” Neil said through the phone. Damien half listened until he heard Neil mention April. Then Neil had all of Damien’s attention and his brain was like that giant, hungry dog running into the kitchen with the glossy tile floors in cartoons. Drooling tongue, huge, flying paws, with claws scraping on tiles, but finding no purchase. Yes, he’d gone there. The space for rent sign had gone out and someone had lost it already. Thank God, he was alone in his suite, or he would have humiliated himself.

               “Wait what? What’s going on? Has he gone after the business further?” He tried to recover from his gaffe. What had he missed? Damien moved to speed up his routine and get it done, while he played damage control with the situation on the phone. The game of keeping the cursing to a minimum. Or keep it silent. Caro was often at this hour in the background. They tried to turn it down around them, so they had practice for when children started cropping up. Which had started months ago, when Carl Johannes knocked up his girlfriend of six years. That led to a fast wedding, twin boys, a condo, and the entire social crowd rethinking where their lives are going. There’s more. That’s what people are saying.

               “Yes, we thought we’d stopped it with April pushing him for a divorce. He’s trying to push to gain shares in the business through the divorce. April thought the prenuptial agreement solved it. David introduced a new demand.” Neil said. He didn’t sound impressed with David’s actions. Or impressed with David’s attempt at grabbing power within a company he’d no connection with beyond being married to April.

               “What’s he demanded?” Damien asked. He couldn’t express his feelings over this. This isn’t something you drop on your partner. It’s something you discuss and have lawyers involved in. He’s asking to have this go wrong. Damien shook his head, amazed at the gross errors he saw happening before him. Any lawyer worth his weight in salt knew never to represent themselves and always have representation. He knew April mentioned having more than a lawyer. She’d planned her exit like a lady planned a southern ball. An entire season ahead of time.

               “He won’t sign the divorce papers unless she signs a post-nuptial agreement granting him half of her part of the business.” Neil said the next words as if he ripped off a bandage he dreaded to remove. Damien could hear his sneer as he spoke. He heard Caro throw something in the background. Because Damien heard Caro make a frustrated noise and a crashing sound.

               “That greedy jerk. Have Caro and April not found proof that he’s somehow taken money from their business?”

               “He took money that belonged to April. It’s a mess. David accessed an account that contained money that April stored money she’d earmarked for investment into the business. She replaced it, but the balance wasn’t small or replaced without making concessions. I didn’t hear what he did with it or if she recovered any. It would surprise me if she saw a dime of it.”

               “He did this, are you sure? After leaving marks like that on her? Now he’s threatening her and dragging out their marriage? After showing up with Chloe like that. He’s done too many drugs over the years. I can’t see any other reason for his erratic behaviour. It doesn’t make any other sense. Chloe’s not trading up in any sense of the word. What do you need me to do?”

               “Keep her safe. Help her keep the business safe. David will do everything he can to be horrible to her. Caro’s worried. She won’t go on our honeymoon unless she knows both the business and April are safe.”

               “Neil, it’s okay. You can tell Caro I promise to watch April and her business for her. You’ll be the first person I call if anything goes wrong.”

               “No. I’m told you must try harder. It’s not enough. You’re not allowed to be a cheating creep, because she’s had one already and doesn’t need another.”

               “Oh, right? Fine. Neil, you tell your fiancé she doesn’t need to worry over anything. If her best friend deigns, to give me the time of day. I’ll give it my best to not repeat David’s obvious blunders. Wow, I’m unsure what to call some things he’s done.”

               “Bull, the man’s a man-whore and weak one at that. Don’t try. Just don’t do what he does. Or we’ll kill you. Understand? I’m sick of this.”

               “I’ll do my best to keep her safe and your business. Okay?”

               “Yes, but you can’t tell her we asked you. She’d never accept help. April had many people turn on her. Maybe too many. So, don’t let it surprise you if she resists letting you in.    It’s her way of protecting herself. After David, she hasn’t accepted to many more into her life.”

               “It’s alright. I’ll grow on her. You’ll see when you get back from your honeymoon.”

               “Please be a rose and not a fungus among us.”

               “Okay, you’re sleeping on the sofa. No, the floor. Yes, the floor. Fungus among us. Neil! What are you, twelve?”

               “Okay, I’ll let you deal with that Fun Gal issue. I appear to have my own.” Damien said to Neil. He half joked with his friend and realized for the first time; he meant it. Damien had similar issues. He must dress to see if April is safe. Or if she needs saving right now.