When You Know Ch. 02

That evening after the unexpected reunion with Joe, Emma came over and Vicky told her all the juicy details of what happened after she left the bar. Even after the events of this morning, Vicky enjoyed replaying it as she talked to Emma. She couldn't deny how great it felt, how great it still felt despite what happened later.

"Wow!" was all Emma could say when she finished. "Wow, wow, wow...that's the hottest story I've ever heard. You put me to shame, girl."

"Well, it doesn't matter now," Vicky replied instantly. "It can never happen again."

"Why not?" Emma asked immediately. "Clearly you liked it, clearly you like him. I've known you all my life Vic, I've never heard you talk about a guy like this."

"You're no better than him," Vicky said ruefully. "Let me think, why not? Well, first he's 24 and I'm 36. Second, he's working with opposing counsel on my biggest case. Those seem like two pretty big reasons."

"Well, he said he was almost done with his internship, that solves problem 2," Emma started. "As to problem 1, the only person that seems to be bothering is you. Clearly, he doesn't care; I saw him, Vic, how he looked at you, and now hearing what he did later. He's really into you."

"It's not just me, what would my parents say?" Vicky responded. "Christ, what would HIS parents say?" For the first time, she thought of Joe's parents, and came to the awful thought they may not be much older than she was. She could only imagine the scornful looks his mother would give her if she knew what happened.

"Don't worry about that," Emma said quickly. "Look no offense, but screw your parents. You've tried all your life to make them happy and they still hold you at arms' length, especially your mother."

"I'm not saying you should marry him, or anything," Emma continued. "But go out on a date with him, have some fun. You never know until you try; it already seems like you have more in common than you thought."

"Yes, it does," Vicky said. "I did some research, he went to Seton Hall and was near the top of his class, and he's graduating Temple Law in a few months. Everyone there seems to speak highly of him from what I could gather."

"You researched him?" Emma replied with a laugh. "That's so Vicky Mullen. But it just proves my point further; you're interested. You wouldn't have done that if you weren't."

"I'm...intrigued," Vicky replied simply. In truth, she was more than intrigued, her friend was right as always. "In any event, I can't do anything until he stops working there. It's a non-starter."

"Fine, I won't argue," Emma said. "But, at least you'll get to see him a few times a week. That'll be fun. Flirt with him and keep him interested, so he doesn't move on."

"I'm not sure it will be fun," Vicky replied, thinking of how flustered she was today. "It's putting me off my game."

"More proof, Vic," Emma laughed. "He's got the great Vicky Mullen on the run...you got it bad girl, real bad."

Vicky shoved Emma from across the table, but it was a playful shove.

"You'll be fine," Emma reassured her. "He just caught you off guard. Now that you know, you'll be able to relax around him."

Over the next several weeks, Vicky and Joe spent a lot of time in the same room; her questioning witnesses, him watching her from the back and taking notes. She quickly got comfortable enough to do her job effectively. Still, she couldn't help but notice that Joe spent a lot of time watching her and taking notes.

She understood this was almost certainly related to the case, but she couldn't help but wonder sometimes if he was taking notes on other things. If he was monitoring HER, trying to figure HER out. At night, when she really thought about it, that idea excited her, and it led more than one time to her pleasuring herself in bed to the memories of that night with him in the bar.

Vicky began to feel like she was in junior high again, having the excitement of knowing a boy liked you even though he didn't try and talk to you. Her heart began to race in the moments before he showed up, as she realized she was about to be in the same room with him again. Still, he made no overt move to speak with her during these sessions, keeping everything between them professional.

After a while, Vicky just assumed his infatuation with her was over and he had moved on. Oh well, she thought sadly, but it was probably for the best. At least until one day several months later, after a deposition on a spring Friday, when both their lives were permanently altered.

Vicky was packing up her things and getting ready to head back to her office. Everyone had left the conference room, everyone except one other person. She felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Hi," said Joe as she turned around.

"Hey," she stammered, blushing slightly and fiddling with her hair again like that night in the bar. 'What am I 12?' she lamented to herself.

"So, one of my professors told me they received several calls from a lawyer at your firm asking about me," he started with a smile. "He said she sounded very interested in me...for a job opportunity of course. Any idea who it was?"

"Um, yes..." Vicky spat out, turning beet red. "I just like to know everything I can about my...adversaries."

"OK, well that's kind of why I wanted to speak with you," he continued, still smiling. "I just wanted to let you know this was my last deposition. My internship is over today."

"Oh," Vicky replied, more than a little disappointed he would no longer be around. "Well, good luck to you."

"Yeah, I'm graduating law school next Saturday," Joe started. "My family will be there. I was wondering, do you want to come? I'd love it if you could."

"To what, your graduation?" Vicky asked incredulously. "I don't even know you."

"I was hoping maybe that could change now," he started hesitantly, his confidence decreasing now that this moment arrived. "I mean, you said nothing could happen while I was working on the case. Well, I'm not working on the case anymore."

Vicky realized that his infatuation with her, or whatever it was, hadn't ended. Her heart began thumping as that dawned on her. Still, she kept her cool.

"I'll see, maybe I could make some time to see the ceremony," she replied casually.

"Great, it starts at 2, here's a ticket, seating is limited to friends and family," Joe replied happily.

"Oh, then I can't take one, Joe. You should give it to someone you really want to be there," Vicky said.

"I really want YOU to be there," he whispered into her ear. The blinds in the conference room were still shut, so no one saw them. Vicky did her best to hold it together, but she was suddenly feeling like she felt in the bar months ago.

For a fleeting moment, she thought he was going to take her right there on the conference room table. And despite how insane that sounded, she wanted him to, wanted him desperately to just do it, no matter if the whole office saw them.

Instead, he just smiled at her for a long time, sensing her discomfort (and desire). Then he whispered into her ear again, "Just think about it, like I said I'd love it if you came." He emphasized that last word then began to leave the room, but turned around before opening the door.

"By the way, I think you're an excellent lawyer. I've learned a lot watching you these last few months. And even if I don't agree with your case, it's really sexy to watch you in here." He gave her one more smile then left the room.

Vicky let out a huge exhale as soon as he left, collapsing back in the chair. She had never been more turned on her life. What was it about this guy that turned her into a quivering mass of flesh? She composed herself and headed back to her office.

"Oh my god, Vic," Emma said over the phone that night as Vicky told the story. "That sounds so hot; here I am wearing two day old clothes covered in who know who's spit-up, and you're the one out having adventures with hot young guys. I'm so jealous, but I'm so happy for you."

"Easy Ems," Vicky replied. "Nothing is happening, I'm not going to go to his graduation."

"Oh yes you are, even if I have to drag you there," Emma started. "Just go with it Vic, see where it leads. He's not working the case anymore so that problem is solved. Aren't you the least bit curious to spend some time with him?"

"Maybe," Vicky said simply. More than maybe, she knew. It was all she could think about since he left that conference room. But still, something seemed wrong about it.

"Go, sit in the back if you want," Emma reasoned. "If you get uncomfortable, you can just leave before he sees you."

"I'll see," Vicky said, though in her mind the decision was pretty much made; she would go.

"And for the love of god call me on Sunday and tell me everything!" Emma yelped. "And I mean everything!"

Still, over the course of the next week, Vicky changed her mind back and forth at least 20 times. As Saturday morning arrived, she was determined not to go; this couldn't lead anywhere, so why tease him with the possibility. More importantly, why tease herself? It was at that point her phone rang, she sighed as she looked at the number; it was her mother Caroline.

Caroline Mullen was the scion of a prominent Philadelphia family herself. Actually, it was her family that had the money, not the Mullens; though they never talked about it in truth Vickys' father's upbringing was strictly middle class.

Vicky's grandfather founded a successful local financial advisory and investment firm; her father Henry joined the company after his engagement to her mother, and had helped build it to new heights. It made both of them many hundreds of millions of dollars when a large New York bank bought the company 25 years ago. Henry had stayed on to run it locally; even now in his mid-60's he showed no signs of slowing down.

Caroline spent most of her time involved in local charities and events, a fixture on the social scene of the Delaware Valley. As a result, her mother was obsessed with status and with her daughter's place in her world. She wanted everyone to see Vicky as a success in both her professional and private life.

So she was horrified at the turn of events with Richard, and did her best to clear her daughter's good name and place all the blame on him. At the same time, she was constantly looking to set up Vicky with the latest rich bachelor who professed an "interest" in her.

Vicky went on several dates with these men over the last few months. She quickly found out most were in the same boat as her; they had been put up to it by their parents hoping to find a suitable match for their older, unmarried children. The others were just interested in jumping her bones, and there was not a spark to be found with any of them.

The Vicky of a few months ago wouldn't have worried about this; she would have just picked the most powerful guy and started dating him. Now, after having experienced what a spark feels like, she no longer wanted to settle for someone who solely looked good on paper. But the only man she felt a spark with was a guy that would not pass any of Caroline Mullen's many tests for dating suitability.

"Hello, darling," Caroline said as her daughter picked up the phone.

"Hello, mother," Vicky said with little emotion. She had no doubt why her mother was calling, clearly she had another "opportunity" for her daughter.

"I just got a call from Kelly James, her son Trip just broke up with his girlfriend. I told her you would meet him for drinks tonight."

"Another one?" Vicky replied with a sigh. "I'm not doing this anymore, mother. None of these men are interested in me, and I'm not interested in any of them."

"It's been over a year dear, and you're not getting any younger," her mother admonished. "You need to grab on to one of these men before it's too late for you."

"Thanks for that, mom," Vicky said scornfully. "Glad to know you have such faith in me."

"You can meet him at 7 at the club," her mother powered on. "I set everything up already."

"I can't mother, I'm busy today," Vicky replied.

"Busy, with what?" her mother asked.

"I have a friend that's graduating law school," Vicky started. Suddenly that felt like the only place she wanted to be now. "I promised him I would go see it."

"Him?" her mother said quizzically. "Do I know the family? Even if he's young, it could be a good match if it's the right family."

"You don't know him, mother," Vicky cut her off. "He's just an intern who I worked with on a case." She left out the other way in which she knew Joe.

"Oh, in that case, forget what I said," her mother replied dismissively. "If you must go fine, but I'll reschedule Trip for Sunday then."

"Sure thing, have a good day," Vicky said as she hung up. She had no intention of going on Sunday either, but she would worry about how to get out of that tomorrow. Right now, she had a graduation to prepare for.

Vicky spent a lot of time staring at her closet, trying to figure out the right thing to wear. If it was just Joe, it would be easier, but she knew his family was going to be there. Even though she hadn't even decided if she actually would meet them, she felt she needed to dress as professionally as possible.

She had no idea how much, if anything, Joe had told them about her. She certainly didn't think he told them what actually happened, at least she desperately hoped not. No better way to make a first impression than by having them think she was the older woman who seduced their son in a bar.

She settled on her best black power suit and white blouse underneath. This was a totally professional gathering, she reasoned, just her congratulating a work colleague on an achievement. Vicky ignored the tingle down her spine and the goosebumps on her arms as she anticipated seeing him again.

Vicky sat in the last row of the auditorium for the ceremony. She kept her cool throughout most of it, but when Joe went up to receive his diploma, she couldn't help herself. Without thinking, she got up excited and began to take pictures with her cell phone. She noticed two people up front excited and waving happily at him; she assumed it was his parents.

Joe acknowledged the couple in the front, then his eyes darted to the back of the room, to a solitary figure standing. Even though he couldn't see clearly from the stage, he instantly knew who it was. He smiled and waved at her; Vicky saw the couple in the front begin to turn around, so she quickly slumped back in her chair embarrassed. 'Why did I just do that?' she asked herself.

She began to plot her escape, but something kept her there, through the ceremony and back into the quad outside, where the graduates mingled with their loved ones. Vicky stayed in the back, behind a tree like a stalker, still deciding what to do.

She saw Joe come out to greet his family. In the light of the outside, as she saw a young dark haired girl jump into his arms, her heart immediately sank. But looking closer this girl was quite a bit younger; still in high school was her guess, and she realized it was the same form she saw from the back, cheering on Joe. She concluded this was probably Joe's sister, not his girlfriend (thankfully, she thought out of nowhere)...or his mother.

The older gentlemen next to them, who quickly hugged both of them, clearly must be Joe's father. He seemed like a nice looking man, same brown hair as Joe but graying; probably mid 50's she thought. He was also clearly thrilled about his son's accomplishment. She saw no one else with them, which only led to more questions. Questions she desperately wanted the answer to, but was still afraid to ask.

Vicky quickly felt ridiculous and began to turn and walk away, until she heard a voice from behind. "Vicky, hey wait, don't go!" It was Joe, he had spotted her, she realized with fear (and excitement). She waited a long moment and contemplated running, but finally turned around as he reached her.

"Hi," she said sheepishly. "Congratulations."

"Thanks for coming," he said with a hug, startling her, but she made no move to end the contact. "I knew you would," he said with a smile as he let her go.

"Well, you knew better than me," she replied with a laugh. "I changed my mind more times than I could count."

"You're here, that's all that matters," he said, grabbing her hand. "Come on, I want to introduce you to my family, they're dying to meet you."

"What?" she questioned, as Joe led her to the two people she spied on from the back of the auditorium. As she suspected, it was a giggling, raven haired teenage girl and an older man with a pensive look on his face.

"This is Vicky, the girl I was telling you about," Joe said as they reached them.

"Hi, I'm Annie, Joe's sister," replied the bubbly teenage girl, hugging Vicky and looking her up and down. "Joe's always talking about you, how smart and sophisticated you are. I see what he's talking about now."

"Thanks, it's a pleasure to meet you as well," Vicky replied, suddenly shy at all the attention.

"Hi, Ken Chambers, Joe's dad," the older gentlemen said reaching out his hand. "Good to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too," Vicky replied shaking his hand. He seemed much more skeptical of her than Annie. She understood what he must be thinking about this older woman his son was interested in. But Vicky had a desire out of nowhere to win him over.

"Come to dinner with us," Joe pleaded. "We're going to this nice Italian place right off campus."

"Oh, I don't know," Vicky said. "I don't want to intrude."

"Nonsense, you're coming," Annie said grabbing her by the arm. "I have so many questions."

"Trust me, no sense in fighting her, I've learned that the hard way these last 18 years," Joe's dad said with a laugh. "We'd love it if you joined us."

"OK, sure," Vicky replied, smiling at Joe as he watched his sister beginning to talk her head off. This was so different from how it would be meeting her family, she realized. But it was a good different, she immediately knew. These three clearly loved each other, but still, Vicky became intensely curious about a missing element here.

Annie continued talking straight through dinner, asking Vicky all sorts of questions about her job, her life, if she knew any famous people. Vicky didn't mind, the girl reminded her of Emma in so many ways.

Joe just smiled at Vicky during his sister's interrogation, clearly getting a kick out of it. He exchanged glances with her at several points, almost asking if she wanted him to step in and end it. But she was good natured about it and so it continued; over time she was even getting some questions in herself.

"So, Annie, tell me about you," Vicky started. "You're starting college in the fall, I gather."

"Yep, just locally, Montclair St., where my mom went," Annie started. "I'm going to be a teacher, like her and my dad."

"That's great, teaching is a noble profession, I wanted to be a teacher at your age too," Vicky replied, at first not aware of the change in mood at the table. But she quickly saw the sad glances between all three Chambers. Clearly, there was a story to be told about Joe's mom, as she had already deduced. Vicky just wasn't sure what it was yet and didn't want to pry.

At that moment, Annie's phone buzzed. She immediately smiled and turned back into bubbly Annie. "It's Josh, I have to answer this."

"Who's Josh?" asked her brother with a raised eyebrow.

"Just a friend," she breezily replied, then got up to go and return the text in private. Joe began quizzing his father.

"Do you know this guy?" he asked Ken, immediately going into protective older brother mode. "I don't like it."

"She's 18, Joe," his father responded with a laugh. "I didn't like it at first either, but he's a nice kid. It's time for her to spread her wings; she's a young woman now."