"I'm in big trouble, aren't I?" Becky asked from her seat at the table in the conference room of Kate's law firm. Kate and Jason looked at each other silently before turning back to face Becky.
"Um, I'm not sure yet," Kate said, trying to sound positive. "But what you just told us does limit our options somewhat."
"So, I'm going to lose my job and not be able to be a teacher?" Becky said. "That's what you're telling me, right?" Kate glanced at Jason again. "By the way you two are looking at each other, I can tell I'm done for."
"No, no, that's not it," Kate said. No way I'm going to tell this woman about my relationship with Matt or what Jason knows about it. Or how incredibly turned on I am right now from finding out about Matt's past. Or, from the looks of it, how turned on Jason is right now, she thought as she looked over at Jason again, this time noticing the bulge in his pants that Becky thankfully couldn't see from across the table. "It's just that some possible defenses, like it was a one-time thing or a momentary lapse in judgment or you just got carried away after a little too much wine, sound like they aren't going to work."
"No, those definitely aren't," Becky said. Putting her face in her hands, she added, "How could I be so stupid? Carrying on like that with a student? And at school? You two must think I'm pathetic or some kind of pervert."
"No, not at all," Kate said. "It sounds like Matt is a really great guy, and cute, and he was 18 so there's nothing wrong with that. Don't beat yourself up. You were young and attractive and lonely and having kind of a rough time. I get how you fell for him, and it sounds like you two had a good thing going." She glared at Jason as he looked at her with a wide grin, pleading with her eyes for him to knock it off before Becky saw him.
"Really?" Becky said, raising her head as Kate handed her a tissue. "My sister agrees with you, but I don't know. I feel so bad about it now that Tyler and I are married. Things are going so well, and I just can't imagine losing him. I know he'd be devastated if he found out."
"Then we need to come up with a plan," Jason said, finally joining the conversation. "One that makes this whole thing go away. We can threaten litigation all we want, but I think we all know that if this gets into court the media will be all over it. You and Matt will be on every news show and supermarket tabloid, the hot teacher and the virgin student."
"Oh God, this is such a nightmare," Becky said, again burying her head in her hands. "I don't want to cause any trouble for him. It was bad enough having to tell him earlier this week."
"You spoke to Matt about this?" Kate asked.
"Yes, that's why I'm here. As soon as I got in trouble at work, I called him. Was that a bad idea? I was panicked, really freaking out. Matt calmed me down and told me to call you. He said you're the best attorney out there and that if anyone could help me, it's you."
"That's very kind of him," Kate said hesitantly. "Did he mention how he knows me?"
"He said you're a friend of his family," Becky said. Kate allowed herself a slight smile, inwardly elated that Matt hadn't spilled their secret. She didn't need that complicating her relationship with her first client.
"Yes," Jason said. "I've known Kate here for a long time and I can attest that she's an excellent attorney. Certainly, better than yours truly. And that she and Matt's families are close, and getting even closer lately. Say Kate, how is it that Matt became a friend of yours?"
Kate glared at him again before saying, "Not so much a friend of mine as my family's. Our fathers are old friends from school. But that's not important. Right now, we need to figure out how we can help Ms. Tapper, wouldn't you agree?"
"Of course," Jason said. "I think we'd better have her sign a confidentiality waiver so we can talk to Matt." Becky looked at them quizzically, obviously not sure what he meant.
"Everything you just told us is strictly confidential," Kate said. "We can't tell anyone outside the firm. What Jason is saying is that we're going to need to talk to Matt about this, and it may be helpful to be able to tell him what you told us."
"Of course," Kate said. "If you think it's best. I'd rather not drag him into this, but I suppose that's not possible, is it?" Kate shook her head. "Well, in that case it's fine with me. That won't be too awkward for you, will it?"
"Nothing I can't handle," Kate said.
"Yes, I have a feeling Kate won't have any problem talking to Matt about this," Jason said. God, I wish he'd knock it off, Kate thought as she shot him another look, resisting the urge to kick him under the table. "I'll grab the waiver."
As he got up to leave, Kate said, "Jason, why don't you grab two? One for Matt and one for Ms. Gentry."
Becky perked up and said, "Samantha? Why do you need to tell her?"
"Yes, Kate," Jason said. "Why do we need to tell her?" He really was enjoying this too much.
"On my visit to Trinity I learned that Mr. Nevil has a side job tutoring students out of his home," Kate said. "Not just Trinity students, but girls from other schools too. Samantha went to Sacred Heart, right? Maybe some of her friends hired Nevil, and maybe he said some things he shouldn't have, or got a little handsy. Who knows what skeletons he has in his closet that he doesn't want revealed in litigation?"
"I like it," Jason said. "Certainly, worth a shot. But do you know how to contact Samantha? You don't know her, do you Kate?"
"I'm sure Matt does," Kate said, knowing she could easily deal with this latest attempt to mess with her. "They're dating, after all, so I'm sure Matt has her number."
"They're dating? I didn't realize you and Matt were so close," Jason said.
"We're not," Kate said. "I only see him occasionally, but he always talks about her. I guess I'm assuming they haven't broken up since I last saw him."
"They haven't," Becky said. "He told me the other day. I'm glad it's working out for them. At least something good came out of this. Go ahead and get the waiver for her, if you think it's best. I'm fine with you telling her whatever you need to. I'm sure she already knows."
Don't be so sure about that, Kate said to herself as Jason left. Becky signed the waivers and departed, it now being early evening. As she and Jason sat alone in the conference room, Kate said, "Did you enjoy that?"
"I did," Jason said. "Don't worry, I'm not going to tell her anything. Just having a little fun."
"Uh-huh," Kate said. "That was quite the story. I can't wait to tell Sam. She's going to flip."
Seeing the look in her eyes, Jason said, "You're not going to use this to get back with Matt, are you? Bribe her with the story in exchange for more of your weekend visits?"
"That's a great idea," Kate said. "I'm glad you thought of that." Seeing a slight look of disappointment on his face, she added, "Don't worry, I'm just kidding. That's all over. But I did promise Sam I'd tell her the story if I ever found out. But before that, you and I need to come up with a plan."
"We need to know what the school knows," Jason said. "How did this Nevil guy find out? Becky told us everything, but there's no way he knows all that. We need to know what he knows, who else knows about it, and exactly what they can prove."
"Obviously she was less careful than she should have been," Kate said. "Doing it in the newspaper office and her own classroom? How careless can you be, right?"
"Or the conference room on the third floor of her law office," Jason said with a big grin.
"Okay, fair enough," Kate said flirtatiously. "But you know you liked it."
"I'll plead the Fifth on that," Jason said. "I was referring to you and Matt, but as you say, fair enough." Kate could understand if he didn't want to talk about the blowjobs she gave him while he was engaged, even if she knew he loved them. "Anyway, any ideas as to how to proceed?" Jason added.
"I'll call Samantha and see if she knows anything about Nevil. I'll talk to Matt too. Tomorrow I'll visit the school again and see if I can get any more info. I doubt it, but it's worth a try. You went to school there, didn't you? Can you call some of your Trinity buddies and see if you can get any dirt on Nevil?"
"I'll give it a shot," Jason said. "They're probably too old, but I'll ask around. See you tomorrow. Let me know as soon as you get back from Trinity."
That evening, Kate called Matt. "So, you finally got the story," he said. "I hope you liked it."
"I loved it," Kate said. "Hearing about your first kiss, your first blowjob, losing your virginity--I have to admit, it turned me on. I always wanted to know and I'm glad I finally found out."
"I'm surprised it took this long," Matt replied. "I just wish it wasn't under these circumstances. Is Ms. Tapper going to be okay?"
"Honestly, I don't know," Kate said. "I'm hoping you can help." She told him about her plan but, unfortunately, he didn't know anything negative about Nevil. Matt was sure there was nothing out there, as he'd never heard anything. "Do you mind if I ask Sam?" Kate added. "And tell her everything?"
"No, I guess not," Matt said. "I'll let you be the one to tell her, since you two have been trying to figure it out for so long. But I'm telling you, Kate, Nevil's clean. You're going to need a new plan." As she hung up, Kate was unsettled--Becky was in trouble, and Kate didn't have another plan.
The next morning, she swung by Trinity on her way to work. No one would talk to her. It was in the lawyers' hands, which ones they wouldn't say, and finals were next week so she really needed to leave. And no, she couldn't talk to James, or any other student for that matter. On her way out she was handed a letter telling her not to come on the property without an appointment, which as a private school Kate knew was their prerogative.
She called Samantha from the school parking lot, hoping she could help. "Sam, this is Kate Harris. I need your help with something. Do you have a minute?"
"Kate, for God's sake, I thought this was over," Samantha responded. "I'm sorry, but no, you can't sleep with Matt again."