Audacity

~Janessa~

That meeting went pretty much as expected. Frank is so disgusting and has been trying to get with me since he met me. I have always refused, but I may have to give in this one time. He is amazing at his job and I need his skills in this situation, though I really...really don't want to have to do this at all.

I can tell Gemma is fuming next to me. I know neither she nor Lana want me to go down this path and have to give in to Frank, but what else am I supposed to do? I need to find out who is keeping tabs on my company and who stole our money. I have to sacrifice for my pack and company, don't I?

"I know you don't want me to say anything but….." I knew Gemma would not be able to keep herself from commenting on the situation. "You can't do this 'Nessa. You and I both know that this will not go well. What if he slips you something or he forces himself on you? I doubt a simple meal will be what he wants from you." I scoff and look at Gemma.

"Do you not think I can take care of myself? You know me and have known me most of my life. I'm not afraid of Frank in the slightest." I'm such a huge liar. I am terrified of what could happen, being alone with Frank. It is true, I can take care of myself, but should I really put myself in that position?

"Of course you can take care of yourself! I have no doubt about that, but do you really think you should put yourself in a situation where you have to find out how much you can take?" Of course Gemma is right, but what the hell option do I have?

All I can do is sigh. There is no reason to have this conversation because we will not agree on what action should be taken. I will gladly welcome any solution that does not involve Frank. I guess I will just have to wait for his email to come in. My phone beeps, disrupting the quiet.

"Ms. James, you have a call on line 1."

"Thank you Katie." I switch to line 1 and put the phone on speaker. "This is Ms. James."

"Ah...hello beautiful. This is Jasper. How are you this fine morning?" What the hell does this man want? I swear he is the last person that I want to speak to right now. Gemma looks at me and gestures to the phone, asking why he is calling. I just hunch my shoulders in response.

"Alpha Kent, what can I do for you today?" He sighs into the receiver and I know my refusal to address him casually pisses him off. Rather than push the issue, the Alpha clears his throat.

"I heard about the trouble you found yourself in and I was calling with a proposition." I stop and look at Gemma. There is no way that he could know what is going on. What goes on in my pack is only our business.

"I'm not sure what you mean?" Gemma is staring at the phone waiting for his response.

"Come now, let's not play games. You and I both know you are missing a big chunk of money and that you plan to use your own money to offset what is missing. I know what a strain that will be for you and I'm prepared to help you out....well for a price of sorts." What. The. FUCK. How the hell would he know about all of that? I look at Gemma and her mouth is hanging open and her eyes are filling with anger. Is this asshole day or something? Everyone wants to help me for a price.

I can feel the anger rising in me. I have a pretty good idea who told him what is going on here and that pisses me off to no end. "Look, I won't bother to ask where you got your information. I will say that my business is just that, mine. You have no right calling me regarding anything that has to do with my pack or my company." I'm trying hard to keep my anger in check, but my grip is tightening on the desk.

"Janessa, don't be stubborn. We can help each other." I'm starting to breathe heavier and I swear I'm starting to see red. "As a matter of fact, if we were to mate, you wouldn't have to worry about anything like this again. The company can become your hobby and we can..." I cut him off with a growl.

"ALPHA KENT!" I can see the room shake from the force of my voice. "My affairs are NONE of your concern. I have matters to attend to. You have yourself a great day," I say through gritted teeth. I don't give him a chance to respond before I pick up the receiver and slamming it down with so much force that it crumbles in my hand and the phone smashes on my desk. I am seething and would love nothing more than to go for a run. I stand up and push my chair back with so much force that it hits the wall and breaks. I take my coffee cup and launch it across the room watching it shatter against the wall. I place both hands on my desk and just try to breathe.

~Justin~

I make my way back towards Janessa's office after taking the time needed to relax in the restroom. As I'm about to pass Katie's desk, she stops me.

"Hey, if you are heading into Ms. James' office, please take this with you." Katie hands me a desktop phone and gives me a wink. Why the hell would she need a phone? I look at Katie and gesture to the phone. She understands my question and just hunches her shoulder. "Ms. Stone just asked for a new phone. I don't ask questions."

"Does Ms. James need a new phone often?" Katie chuckles and opens a cabinet behind her. Inside the cabinet are a few desktop phones.

"It happens from time to time." What the hell is going on in this office that you need a reserve of phones? I shake my head and walk into Janessa's office, but abruptly stop in the doorway. Janessa looks as if she is ready to rip anyone's head off if they look at her wrong. Gemma is on her phone, talking to a cleaning crew. Janessa's chair is busted on the floor behind her. Across the way from her on the floor is a shattered coffee cup mixed with coffee. On her desk is a shattered phone. This room didn't look like this before I left and it couldn't have been Frank. What the hell did I miss? I clear my throat and Gemma looks up. She motions for me to come in and close the door. I do just that and rather than ask any questions, I place the new phone on the desk and move to pick up the pieces of the coffee cup. Janessa doesn't seem to notice I'm in the room. Gemma walks over to her and whispers something. I wish I could hear what they are saying. Whatever Gemma said made Janessa slam her hand on her desk and walk out of the office. Gemma sighs and starts to clean up the broken phone and set up the new one. Neither of us say a word while we work to get the room back together. Not long after the phone is set up, Katie chimes through saying a Mr. White and Mr. Knotts are waiting in the lobby. Gemma tells her to send them in and it doesn't take long for two men to enter the office.

"Gentlemen, nice to see you. Mr. Case…." I walk over to the men and Gemma. "This is Mr. Alan White our financial advisor and Mr. Ben Knotts, our lawyer. They are here to help with the issue from this weekend. Gentlemen, this is Mr. Case. He is Ms. James' new assistant. Please let him know if you need anything and I will go get Ms. James." I shake the men's hands and lead them to the round table in the back of the office. I settle them down and ask if they need anything. They both said no and just as I'm about to take a seat, Gemma and Janessa walk in. Janessa is looking a lot more calm than she was before.

"You can wait for me at your desk, Mr. Case." She doesn't want me in this meeting? I wonder what they would meet about that she wants to keep quiet. I stand and nod, walking out of the room wondering what is really going on in this company.