” “Excuse me?” I asked. “He fucked my girlfriend in college, I fucked his girlfriend in an elevator.” The feeling of being kicked in the gut...was triple strength this time. “But… but that… that was a random encounter.” “Really?” he said. “Think about it Mackenzie. You and I just happen to be in an elevator that breaks down when we are alone and doesn’t come back until we are finished. I’m sure Charles enjoyed the show as well.” I felt nauseous. I was used in a sick revenge plot, and I was. “I just had to meet this young man you spoke so enthusiastically about. Imagine my surprise.” While the sisters had made it an unspoken rule to not be in the house for each other’s “dates”, Fiona knew perfectly well what her mother was referring to, and wisely didn’t ask, though she did shoot her sister a few questioning glances. Jen nodded grimly at her while Mrs. Reed’s back was turned and Jahn gave her an apologetic shrug. Jahn was granted the dubious honor of being seated directly across. " Ma'am, are you licensed to run an orphanage?" No sir, them boys're not orphans, they're my sons. They are legal adopted. I have help from that free law clinic, to do all the papers." Yes ma'am, I can see how much help the free law clinic would be to someone who is adopting a son every year. Ah, if you will excuse me for a moment, I will need a supervisor's signature and then I can get you a check for the money." Oh, no sir, I don't want a check. You can deposit it in my savings account and I. ”“I see,” Amantil nodded. “Members of the Court, your thoughts?”“Whilst certainly guilty of lese-majesté, I see no reason to punish Commander Kiria more than a demand for an apology, Serenissima,” High Court Arbitrator Wellat replied.“Lives were saved, even if she was forced to trample over protocol,” Meritocrat Taisha added. “Nor could it be conceived of as treason.”“Agreed,” Amantil replied, seeing the consensus of those gathered. “Had there been time, I would anyway simply have chosen a.