Logan Chapter 113

-Logan-

One good thing about having basically the same meeting over and over again is that it’s really easy to come in with a concrete plan, especially by the third or fourth one. That’s the only silver lining I can find, because I’m getting damned tired of having this same conversation today. It doesn’t help that I wouldn’t like it even if I only had to explain myself to them once. I should’ve done it that way instead of prolonging my torture like this- set all of these sniveling leeches in one room together and had a class.

I’m glad I only gave them thirty-minute slots, at least. It helps keep them on task, and stops any obnoxious rambling when they know their time is limited. It always starts with the red-faced blustering about “how dare you have sex anywhere but your bedroom at home with the lights off” and when I point out that there are lots of people that go other places- like hotel rooms, or even fitting rooms in public stores- and that I wasn’t doing anything all that scandalous when it comes down to it. That’s when they get to the heart of the problem for them- that I got caught having actual sex with my mate. Wife, to them. Then I give them my line about reasonable expectation of privacy and victim blaming, which is the phrase that usually gets them to shut up about all of it. I make noises about pressing charges as soon as I find the person responsible for blah, blah, blah, and they eventually calm down enough to say something along the lines of “well, that’s terrible luck, maybe you should be more careful of your surroundings in the future, eh?” At that point, we part as ambivalent parties once more.

This general outline holds for most of my day, until one of the more prominent investors comes in with a grin on his face. I don’t let the surprise show on mine, but I’m sure he felt it in my momentary pause. “Mr. Franklin, please have a seat. I understand you have concerns you’d like to go over with me about my wife and I?”

Jacob Franklin, certified trust fund baby and not much else, just smiles wider as he falls carelessly into the seat in front of me. He’s always been irreverent, and hasn’t found much in his thirty years to be serious about. His hair is usually a mess, but his suits are impeccably tailored and his cufflinks are always studded with diamonds. Even now, his grin is more mischievous than friendly. “I want to know what’s worse than your sex life being plastered across the news and the internet.” He’s almost holding back a laugh.

“I don’t know what you mean. I’m not having a great time, no, but I’m sure there are worse things I could think of. All my limbs still work, and some of the comments about my stamina were complimentary. I guess making a good impression is a silver lining.” I go for wry humor, though I’m more annoyed and confused than anything else.

I only feel more confused when Franklin actually laughs out loud. “No, no. I want to know what’s so important to cover up that you’d throw your “wife” under the bus to do it.” I’ve never seen a grown man use air quotes in a business setting before now. “It must be something big, if she agreed to it. Can’t be cheating with your relationship so new- she would’ve just left you and found another rich asshole. Maybe we need to look at the books here? But there wasn’t anything about that in the news about you all. Something with your brother, I bet. He must’ve really fucked up if it would be worse for you than this” He gestures between us, indicating all the stupid meetings I’ve been in today.

The confusion slowly dissipates as he continues his self-indulgent monologue, and I almost miss it. He saw right through the operation, and I can’t afford to let him get any closer. I go for a deeply offended reaction and realize that I don’t have to pretend all that much. “I’d like to remind you that you’re speaking of my wife, Franklin. She’s not a gold digger, and in fact the whole reason all this news circus started was because I didn’t tell her who I was earlier in our relationship. She thought I just worked in project management. Not that you deserve the explanation, because you seem to be blaming me for the fact that someone else invaded my privacy and that of the one woman I’ve ever been in love with. I’d like you to leave.” I stand from my seat behind my desk and hit the button to summon Anna to open the door for him.

“Ah, hit a little too close to home, huh? Well, I hope whatever Landon did is worth all this hassle. He’d better get you something really damned good for Christmas this year!” With another laugh, Franklin waves off Anna and walks out the door on his own. I’m not sure if I won or lost that meeting, and I hate that. The only thing keeping him from the shifter secret is the fact that he’s sleazy enough to think that everyone else must operate on his level. He couldn’t comprehend that the good of many would be more important than his individual reputation. He just assumed we had some private family shame instead of asking deeper questions.

I force down the panic, knowing that Franklin doesn’t care enough about anything to do his own research. He’ll just wait for whatever secret I have to come back to him as gossip or in the news. I was confused when he appeared on Anna’s list because he isn’t the type to care so much about reputation when his financial advisors find him a good investment, but I should have known he would’ve been in it for the entertainment and curiosity. Maybe Emory was right in that we could have just ignored the conspiracy theorists. The rest of the world is so adamant that shifters don’t really exist that they can’t even see the evidence. They’re looking for something far more mundane. Even if she’s right, though, we’ll be safer this way. As soon as we’re old news, everyone can go back to their normal lives.