A Blind Marriage On Paper

Chapter 7

Griffin is taking in the way his friend is talking about Jurnee. He still doesn’t understand how Ingo gave up a sure lay for a night to be alone, even if it was his wedding night to a woman he doesn’t know. He’s brought out of his thought when Ingo informs him to set up a teleconference call with the head of media and Jurnee later today.

Brynn looks at the two men and the woman as if they have lost their minds. Every time she starts to say something, Ingo says something.

“A video call, don’t you mean? Griffin is hoping Ingo says yes. That way, he would get to see what his friend’s wife looks like.

Ingo shook his head. ” Good try. But no. Teleconference calls only.” He points at Griffin.

“Hey man, what can I say? Hell, you can't blame me for trying." Griffin chuckles.

Ingo laughs. “A really good one. Let me know how it goes. Brynn and I have a business luncheon with Doug Peak. We need to nail it today.” He looks at Brynn "That means no mistakes."

She is sitting there still looking confused; she wants to know who Jurnee is.

Thora cuts her eyes at Brynn, wondering how it is that I’m the head of her department, but she always manages to be one step ahead of me when it comes to big accounts. She also cons her way to all of the events that only a handful of executives are invited to.

“Be careful of the octopus.” Griffin mouths while pointing at Brynn with his head.

“Duly noted.” Ingo picks up his phone to call Faun into his office. " Now, if you all would excuse me." He looks at Brynn and points at the door.

She looks at him and frowns on her way out. Griffin is walking out the door in front of her. Brynn grabs his arm. “Who is Jurnee, and what does she have to do with the company?"

He looks at her hand, then into her face, and back to her hand. “Do I need to say it?”

Brynn lets his arm go but asks the same questions again.

“If I remember correctly, Ingo told you that it isn’t any of your business. Don’t ever in your life grab me again,” Griffin straightens his jacket and walks down the hall.

She thought about asking Thora, but she knew that was a waste of time. So she calls Maci to ask if she knows Jurnee. "Damn it," she mumbles when Maci tells her that she has never heard of her.

****

After having breakfast with Raziel at the Country Club, Chamblee went to his company. He’s in the office looking to work on an ad. Even if he is the owner of the company, he still loves working on ads for clients, and he can’t shake the feeling that he has seen Brynn from somewhere before, and it didn’t have anything to do with Vaughan’s. He doesn’t know what it is about her that is bugging the hell out of him. He’s brought out of his thoughts when Sable beeps in to inform him that Prince Salman is on the phone.

“Send him to me. I was expecting his call,” Chamblee said. He looked at the picture on his desk of the young man and his daughter.

“Hello, son,” was all he said before Salman told him, “If he or Jurnee ever needs anything, let him know. He never meant to hurt Juju. He’ll always love her. Please take care of her for me."

“I know you didn’t mean to hurt her. Some things are out of our hands, and we have no control over them. Don’t worry about Jurnee; I’ll take care of her. Take care of yourself." Chamblee hangs the phone up. “Damn, those two love each other so much. Sazin has always been an evil asshole.” He can hear the sadness in the young man’s voice and feels sorry for him just as much as he feels sorry for his daughter. Then his mind goes back to Brynn. He is determined to find out where he knows her from.

****

Maci is pacing in the kitchen after receiving the call from Brynn. Every few seconds, she would look at her phone as if she were reading a text or expecting a call. She sits down at the table and buries her head in her hands.”

Imelda is standing back, looking at her, thinking, “Just about every time she gets off that phone, she acts as nervous as a cat. What is that child hiding?”

Maci finally pulls herself together and starts cleaning the kitchen. She didn't hear Imelda come in. She jumps when Imelda asks her if she wants some help."

She's holding her chest. "This time, you scared the daylights out of me."

"Child, sit down. It's time you and I have a serious talk. I know that something or someone has you rattled. I’m not getting into your business. I just want you to know that you’re not alone. I’m here, and also Mr. Vaughan. He has been very good to you and your family. Don’t do anything stupid that you’ll regret.” Imelda rubs her hand. Is there anything you want to get off your chest?”

Maci wants to tell Imelda, but Brynn said that if she told her, she’d make sure that Ingo fires her. “No, ma’am, not yet. Let me see if I can handle it myself. But thank you.”

“Alright, now remember what t I said.’ Imelda walks into the den. “That girl is between a rock and a hard place. I’m making it my business to find out what that b***h has on her. I'm one hundred percent sure that Brynn Ackles is behind it.” She remembered that she forgot to tell her boss about the call from Alan the other night about Brynn hanging around the building. Imelda picks up the phone but hangs up. “What if she’s the one he’s marrying? Oh Lord, if she is helping us all.”

*****

Coleen is in the family room arranging a vase of flowers; she can't stop thinking about “Brynn acted as if she owned the company. Even dared to threaten Faun. Call my clothes knockoffs. Hell, I don’t know which one I should be madder about.”

Raziel walks over and kisses her cheek ‘What has my beautiful wife flustered?”

She tells him about her visit to the company and Brynn’s attitude toward Faun and his nasty ways. She was hesitant to tell him about their son fooling around with that woman. Coleen doesn’t mention that. She knows how he is about the company's reputation. She knows that her husband isn’t an angel, but he has never had an affair with his employees. His problem was his mistress coming to the office to make themselves known. She already knew about them because of Faun and the detectives who would be hired to follow. Once she gets tired of sharing her husband with others, she calls him on it, and Raziel ends the relationship. When he was younger, he loved to play around, that is, until he was about to lose his wife.

"Ah, yes, Chamblee and I had a little of her ourselves yesterday after Ingo and Jurnee's wedding ceremony. I do not doubt that she will cause problems. That kind of woman is always known to want a man who doesn't want her or is married and fooling around with her. Maybe this marriage to Jurnee will change him in some way. One damn thing is for sure. Jurnee didn't waste any time telling our son what she won't tolerate." He looks at her, confused. "Sweetheart, have you ever met our daughter-in-law?"

Coleen shook her head. "Now that you mention that. No, I haven't. Chamblee would always attend charities or whatever party he went to alone. I did hear that she was intelligent, and one of the women at the club said she was engaged. Since she married our son, I take that didn't work out for her. "

Raziel sits down. "Did the woman say who she was engaged to?"

"A king. I believe that's what Delia said. But then we can't put too much stock in what that woman says." She'd stood back admiring her flowers.

He wondered if that was true, and if so, why didn't Jurnee marry the king?

****

Ingo was at the table at the restaurant waiting for Doug and Brynn. Doug had called and said he would be there in five minutes because he was stuck in traffic. Brynn hadn’t called to say anything. She was furious because he put her out of his car. At first, the plan was that they would ride there together. But when they walked into the parking lot, Brynn started her touchy-feeling game, and he wasn’t in the mood to fight her off and drive. Ingo told her to take a taxi or Uber, that he had to stop somewhere first.

Brynn finally comes in and rolls her eyes at him as she's shown to the table. Ingo ignores her and looks past her at Doug walking through the door.

She’s breathing hard when she sits down. Doug arrives at the table, cuts his eyes at her, and sits in the chair next to Ingo.

Ingo noticed the look he had given her. But he also noticed the look that some people in the restaurant gave him. He’s wondering, "What is that about?"

Brynn doesn't waste any time telling Doug the ideas she has come up with. Every so often, she would touch his hand. Ingo shook his head and smirked. Doug would slide his hand off the table and clear his throat.

While eating lunch, Brynn excused herself and went to the restroom. Doug didn’t waste time telling Ingo that he would love to work with his company but not with that woman. He went on to tell him how unprofessional and annoying Brynn is. The only reason he accepted this meeting was that he would be there.

Ingo listens to him. He isn't surprised by how Doug is describing Brynn. He has started feeling the same way about her. He guarantees Doug that Brynn wouldn’t have anything to do with his account if he signs with the company. He'll tell her when they return to the office. The two men are shaking hands when she returns to the table.

“By the look of that, I take it that Doug is signing with us.” She sits down and picks up her glass of wine.

Ingo nods his head. “Yes, he is. Now let's enjoy the rest of our lunch.” He picks up his fork.

Doug chuckles and covers his mouth with his napkin, and thinks, "I'm dodging your bullet."

While eating, she kept asking Doug when he was coming to the office to sign the paperwork. Ingo would change the subject. Doug would either take a sip or two of his wine or put some food in his mouth.

“Something strange is going on here,” she thought while looking between the two men.

Several of Ingo's father's friends would stop at the table, congratulating him and patting his shoulder. He would thank them and continue eating. Ingo sees Lloyd Canary walking to the table. Lloyd and Raziel are close friends and meet at the Country Club twice weekly for breakfast.

Lloyd pats Ingo's shoulder hard. “It’s about time. Your father told me and everyone else at the club this morning the good news. Congratulations”

“Thank you. I’m sure he did.” Ingo is looking at the man walking away.

Brynn is looking at Ingo weirdly as she's putting a Brussels sprout in her mouth.

"Man, it seems I'm the only one who doesn't know what's going on. Tell me so I can congratulate you too." Doug is looking at him, smiling.

"I got married yesterday." Ingo looks at him and then at Brynn, choking on the Brussels sprout.