A Seal Upon Your Heart (11 page)

The young woman’s mouth flew open. “Jane is lying if she said I was the one that was…”

Tim waited. “Was?”

Jen leaned forward again. “She doesn’t…dress very office professional. Some of the girls have said things about it and about the way her shoes squeak. But I did not say any of that, it’s petty and I take pity on her. If her…feet weren’t so big I’d give her some of my shoes.”

Tim pressed a button on the phone. “Security, I’ll need a terminated employee escorted out.”

“Right away Mr. Singleton.”

Jen sat up straight. “Tim, I can assure you that Jane has been lying! I’ve not done anything to her-”

“Jane hasn’t told me anything about you.” Jen’s mouth parted. “You spent more time shooting her down then selling yourself—and that’s only because you can’t. I think Jane is the one that figured out the filing system. And it’s certainly Jane that is the more proficient typist. I believe that Jane has been doing the majority of the work…and probably fixing your errors. She doesn’t try to take credit for it, either. She hasn’t once taken credit for doing anything around here; except, perhaps making the best cup of coffee that I’ve had in ages.”

There was a knock at the door and Tim came to his feet. Security entered and Tim gave her a dismissive look.  “Please collect your things and
your
things only. And the notepad and pen you’re holding; leave that right there on my desk.”

“Ma’ame. Follow us.” Jen’s mouth was still hanging open in total surprise. She got up and was escorted to the cubicle and allowed to get her items from her cubby, along with the photograph of her dog NuNu and some other trinkets there.

Jane was standing at the wet bar so that she wouldn’t be in the way. Jen wouldn’t meet her eyes and Jane took no pleasure in seeing her like this. She was escorted out while everyone quietly watched.

~***~

Every one of Jane’s accounts were locked…which was actually a good thing because that meant that Jen hadn’t been able to access them-- and she made sure to check anything of hers that Jen could have had contact with. She called Tim and explained what had happened. She heard him cursing. He told her to call IT to take the entire computer. She heard him saying to himself that he wouldn’t put anything past her.

“How far are you behind?”  There wasn’t a question of
if
, just how far.

Jane was honest. “I don’t think Jen has done any of the things she said she would.”

“Christ. You’ll need to come into my office and you can work under my account.” After hanging up the phone he realized that he’d said Christ. Wasn’t that considered blasphemy or something? Shit, he’d have to watch his language. Damnit.

He hoped that woman hadn’t compromised any of his clients in an attempt to discredit Jane. If she had then there would be hell to pay and he would press charges to the fullest extent of the law…and he knew of ways to make the fullest extent even fuller!

Jane came in and he quickly printed up some items that he would need to prepare for tomorrow’s partners meeting, and then he got up and gave her his seat.  She gave him a shy look.

“Thank you.”

“Just tell me what systems you need and I’ll log in to them.” The two worked quietly together; Jane’s steady typing a comforting backdrop. Tim almost forgot…well it was like Corrine was there. He glanced out the window and saw the rain pouring down. It wasn’t letting up and it was nearly time to leave. He thought about Jane’s shoes squeaking and her taking two buses to get home. That was just ridiculous! She’d be like a drowned rat within minutes of being out in this weather!

“You can finish up tomorrow. Are you ready to go? Because I’m leaving and I can just take you home.”

Her mouth opened and formed a little O. She glanced out the window and her brow went up at the relentless rain. “It’s coming down pretty hard. If it’s no trouble, I’d appreciate it,” was her whispered response.

“Not at all.”

She pressed save and logged out. She stood and stretched, then slipped her stockinged feet into her shoes. Tim hadn’t even realized that she had gotten comfortable enough to take them off. He watched her, barely realizing that he was watching her every move. She was so tall and graceful.  The line of her neck was just like a ballerina’s. She didn’t wear a stitch of makeup but her face was perfect; even her dark brown lips didn’t need a bit of red, and her brown eyes were lined in the blackest of lashes, her brow arched perfectly…

Tim blinked and looked away before she caught him staring and thought he was a pervert. “Um…I was going to eat dinner. Feel free to join me.” He looked embarrassed. “You can help me celebrate winning my case.”

“Oh you won!”  She exclaimed happily.

“I suppose you can say that, although my client will be spending several years behind bars. Strange victory but it’s what he hired me for. So is that a yes?”

Jane didn’t know how comfortable she would be eating dinner with Tim…but she was his assistant and she had better learn to get comfortable with him quick. They would be working closely together.

“Yes, thank you.” They put on their coats and headed out the office together.

“Where would you like to eat?” He asked once they were in the building’s garage.

Her mouth dropped. “Oh…I wouldn’t know…”

He used his key to disengage the locks on his Cadillac. Some liked their sports cars but he was still a Cadillac kind of man. “What do you like to eat?” He opened the door for her.

“I…You decide. I like everything.”

Tim chuckled. That could not be true. He should test her on that…but maybe some other time. He wanted a big juicy steak and he knew just the place.

“Steak it is.” 

Jane settled into the nice leather seat of Tim’s car then buckled herself in. She found herself peeking at him as they drove. She noted that he had developed a five o’clock shadow and it brought his professional and polished look more down to earth. She liked seeing him with his tie loosened and his jacket off. But she actually liked the way he looked dressed perfectly for court, too. She knew nothing about men’s suits, only that his big muscular body looked great in them. Even sitting, she could see the way the fine material stretched over his big thighs.

She felt a tingly sensation in her belly and quickly turned to look out at the passing scenery. They arrived at a place called Nicks Chops and Chasers. The restaurant was built like a stone cottage and as soon as they got out of the car, Jane could smell the roasting meats. Her stomach began to growl and she glanced at Tim to see if he’d heard. If he did he didn’t show it as he led her into the nice restaurant. She hoped her shoes wouldn’t start squeaking any louder as they hurried through the rain.

Once inside a host greeted them and then whisked them into the crowded main room. There was a huge fireplace and Jane was thoroughly impressed. They were seated at a small table near the fireplace and she was happy for the added warmth.

“I hope you like steak. They serve the best aged beef I’ve ever had.”

She nodded. “I’ve never had steak.”

He gave her a confused look. “Never?”

“We have roast beef but never steak.”

He thought of something appropriate to say. “Well…I’m sure that Nick’s is the best introduction to steak that you could ever have.”

“Thank you for inviting me.”

“No, thank you.” He decided not to say that he would have never had the guts to come here without someone. He still hadn’t gotten used to eating alone in public. A waitress came and took their drink orders. Tim had a beer and Jane had raspberry lemonade. Then he spent a few minutes helping her decide what cut of steak she might like. She settled on a ribeye while he went for the porterhouse. She wasn’t sure how she preferred it cooked so to be on the safe side he had them make hers medium well. He himself preferred medium and he made sure they brought all of the trimmings.

Jane was staring in shock at the prices. Her steak would cost $29! Tim’s was nearly twice that. Then add in their sides—which was not included in the price and their drinks and this meal would end up costing him more than she’d ever held at one time in her hands. The sisters only gave her $30 a week and she never had more than a dollar left over from it by the beginning of the next week.

After the food was ordered, it got quiet and Tim cleared his throat. “So, you live with nuns?”

“Yes.”

“What’s that like?” Everybody asked that question.

“Well,” she smiled. “I don’t know what it would be like NOT to live with nuns.”

He nodded. That made sense. “How long have you lived there?”

“Since I was six.”

And before that was Rwanda. He didn’t mention that. “Are you going to become a nun?”

“No!”  She almost shouted that out and Tim chuckled. She grinned. He had a wonderful sounding laugh. “I love the sisters, but they aren’t always the easiest people to live with.”

“I can imagine. Do they hit you over the knuckles with rulers?” He was only half kidding.

“No. But they give you an 8:00 curfew even if you’re an adult. And the food is…not very good. No one really knows how to cook. It’s not what people think. Nuns are just like everyone else. They don’t walk around talking about god all of the time or reading scripture. Most of them live in apartments and not in convents.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“Yes. Bartholoma is more old-fashioned because we do have the majority of the sister’s living on campus. There are very strict rules.”

“Strict? More strict than being home by 8:00?” That seemed unfathomable to him.

“Oh yes. No makeup, no secular music, no boys, no books unless they are from the reading list or assigned by a teacher-”

“These are rules even for an adult such as yourself?”

She sighed. “I’m actually not supposed to be living on campus. I graduated college just a short while ago and I’m expected to leave St. Bartholoma.”

He mulled that information over. She was obviously smart, he knew that even before this revelation. “Congratulations on graduating. What did you study?”

She wanted to go for Liberal Arts but Bartholoma wouldn’t fund that. “I have a degree in early childhood education and theology.”

“Okay. So you want to teach religion to children?”

“No.” She shook her head adamantly. “I just wanted to go to school.” Any school that was outside of St. Bartholoma.

Tim cocked his head. “It sounds like a good thing that you won’t be living at that convent.”

She twisted her lip. “That’s why Sister Louise helped me to get this job. I was told that I’d have to leave unless I became a nun. They allowed me to stay as long as I went to school and helped out, but now…”

Tim thought that she should be thankful that she was asked to leave. The place sounded like it was right out of the middle ages.

“So where are you going to live?”

“I have to have money first.”

“Damn…Oh sorry! I meant darn!” He didn’t mean to curse and he’d have to learn to watch his language around her. His cheeks turned red.

Jane laughed. “I don’t mind if you say damn. Guess what? Nuns say it too.”

“They do?” He leaned forward. “Are they allowed to curse?”

“No. But they do all kinds of things that they aren’t allowed to.” He looked confused.

“Like what?”

She just grinned.