Conducive

Reign Residence

Hazel stared intently at Ray. "You see what I'm seeing?"

"I do see." He chuckled, causing her eyes to narrow at him.

"Our Daughter, is being Sued to Court, and you're laughing?"

"Oh, my," Ray sighed. With arms outstretched, he walked towards her to cradle her worried face in his hands. "What are you worried about, Azel? Your Daughter is a bad-ass, she doesn't need us worrying about her. Just wipe that frown off your face and cheer her on."

"For the love of Heaven, Ray, I can't help but…"

His lips captured hers, interrupting her words for a split second. "It's Okay." She stared into his eyes as his confidence gradually suffused through her being. He bent to kiss her again. "It's Okay."

"Oh, Ray,"

*****

Jasmine was sitting in front of the Laptop in her Office. Gemma stood by her, refusing to move an inch, while the Clock ticked as a bulky Man stared at her from the other side. His turtle-necked shirt left Jasmine feeling suffocated for him. She reached to her own neck and rubbed, Laura's nervousness oozing into her own body as the Man began speaking.

"Ho-Honestly speaking," he cleared his throat and started again, "I think this is a serious waste of my time, Miss Lorins…"

"What the...?"

He put up a hand to stop her. "Let me speak. You might have felt over-looked, you might have felt ignored, but emotion is not stated in the Contract that I have read and re-read, time and again-"

"Excuse me," she cut in once more, "excuse me. It was stated that, a decision should not be taken against a person's positivity. Her actions with me has been anything but positive, goddamn it!" 

He leaned back in his seat, asking with eyes fixed on her, "what do you expect her to do, Miss Lorins?"

Laura straightened. "Show some positivity!"

"I can't possibly baby-sit you to show I do not care, Lorins 'baby'." Jasmine mocked distractedly, flying a paper away to pick another one.

The Judge frowned.

He did not approve of the obvious way she was showing she didn't care about this gathering also, but he could say nothing to oppose Jasmine Reign. 

Laura threw her hands about. "Are you seeing that?! I mean, did you just hear her?!"

"Ah, geez," Gemma slumped down on the chair opposite Jasmine. Why was the girl behaving so amateur like an illiterate?

Rayfus Peyton took in a very deep breath and straightened once more. "I would love for you to calm down, Miss Laura, you're making a lot of noise," she huffed and fell back on her chair. He turned his attention fully to Jasmine. "But, there's something known as a 'Conducive Working Environment', Ma'am." She resisted an urge to roll her eyes likewise Laura. How come she got to be addressed as 'Miss' while Jasmine was broadly called 'Madam'? That just was not fair! "You should not be antagonistic to people under you. If possible, try to make them feel equal. Antagonizing your Workers is punishable by Law."

The silence remained, with him waiting for her to say something and Laura growing impatient. But, Jasmine took her time, picking paper after paper until the time was drawing close to what she had agreed and she had to set down her pen and prop her head up on her hands in leisure.

"Rayfus," she drawled. He swallowed. "First of all, nobody is equal to me-"

"Oh, please," Laura rolled her eyes.

"-the Contract never stated I have to be nice."

"But…"

"If you interrupt me one more time, Lorins… One. More. Time," she scoffed, leaving it incomplete. It was Laura's turn to fix her a stare as she gulped stealthily. "Mr. Smith and I provided them with everything they possibly needed, you can check out the video I…" The beeping of an alarm cut into her words. "... For now, we're done here." 

Her side of the screen went blank as Laura stared at Rayfus with a muscle working in her jaw. At last, she slammed down her phone and he heaved a sigh as he viewed the video Jasmine's Secretary had sent him.

It was just a Thriller, then a play of Behind The Scenes. From what he could see, there were lots of food and fun and drinks and the atmosphere seemed lively enough. He shut down his Computer, feeling extremely conflicted.

The working condition looked conducive enough, which was perfect. Jasmine and Dylan's appearance was not often, but they didn't 'antagonize' anybody… Just from what he could see, the condition they lived in was pretty close to perfect, so it was weird Laura would take such a decision. 

Seemingly without consideration. 

---

"Ma'am," Gemma looked worriedly at Jasmine, "what will you do now?"

"About what?"

"You know, Laura and the…"

"Yes," she swivelled to the translucent Walls, "get me the name of her Lawyer. He's got something coming to him."

Gemma bowed and left at once.

She didn't often feel good seeing the down-fall of others, but this time, she was exceptionally glad.

Nobody had dared go against Jasmine Reign. And Laura Lorins, as stupid as she was, must have longed to create history.

She surely was going to create that history she wanted.

With her going down.

She was back with the information in no time. 

"Tyler Rylan, from right here, Capé. Went to the School of Law in Vraai, Capé, and graduated with a 'Second-Class Upper'," she said with a tremble of laughter in her voice, then cleared her throat and continued, "certified and hired by Laura Lorins in 2020; High School buddies. Tyler is married with…"

"Not interested in the least about those. I need you to find him for me, will you, Gemma?"

She nodded vehemently. "With pleasure."

As Jasmine got to her feet, Gemma handed her her Coat. "You're changing."

"For the good or bad?"

"The latter," she said as she slipped her hands into it and made her way to the door, Gemma holding her purse, "I like it."

Her Secretary just let out a heart-felt laughter. "I'm pleasured."