She felt warm flesh cover her eyes. It happened in an instant, but she knew someone was covering both her eyes with their hands. She covered the hands with her own. They were man hands. Andrew’s hands? She felt along the knuckles until she reached the wrists. There was a deep, gutteral sound, an uneasy chuckle. That was not Andrew.
Turning around, she grabbed at her mouth and gasped. “Melone?!”
Chapter Thirteen
Second Guessing
“WHO ELSE WOULD it be?” James asked with a forced snicker.
Jennifer looked around. She had hoped it was Andrew. Facing her boss, she looked him over from the top of his head to his torso, the rest of him was covered by the chair. He looked fresh and fabulous.
“Did you just get here?” He nodded and rounded the chair to sit in one just opposite her, facing the blackened hearth. She wondered if the hotel used the fireplace in the winter time. She doubted it.
“Arrived 30 minutes ago. My luggage is on a cart. Do you have a room key?”
Jennifer nodded. It was upstairs. She would need to go back to her room to get it. James was staying on the same floor but at the end of the hall in a conference suite. No doubt they were going to use that for a game plan the next day.
She stood. “I had no idea you were coming in tonight. Why didn’t you tell me?”
James shrugged his shoulders and then faced Jennifer. “I felt bad.”
“Bad?” She raised an eyebrow. “What for?”
James laughed and gestured to her. “Are you kidding me? I completely ditched you at the last minute. I should never have done that.”
Jennifer felt her heart soften. She had nearly forgotten about how selfishly he had left her with Andrew Monday night. Even as she thought the words to herself, she knew it was a lie. She’d never forget something like that. “Yeah, about that…” her voice drifted.
“I heard you gave one hell of a speech, though,” he smiled brightly. After a moment, it dipped in sincerity. “I need to make it up to you.”
Jennifer nodded, searching James's face. He meant every word of it. Perhaps this was a good thing after all. She spied the luggage cart behind him and pointed towards it.
“Let’s get going to your room.”
“Where’s Andrew?”
“Upstairs,” Jennifer moved to the cart and began to push, but James stopped her.
“I can get my own bags. I’d like to speak with him. Do you think he’s asleep?”
Jennifer forced a smile. “I’m pretty sure he’s still up. Would you like me to email him?”
Andrew rubbed his chin and shook his head. “No, that’s okay. I’ll take care of it. You’ve been working hard to cover for me.”
Jennifer couldn’t help the smile that snaked onto her face. He noticed what she did for him. Surely that had to count for something. Her stomach eased from the tightening knots, and she found herself managing a deep breath. James maneuvered the cart towards the elevator, and when the doors opened, they were both relieved that no one was inside.
“How’s Melony?” Jennifer asked, trying to sound casual.
“Oh, she’s just great. Really great.” James waited for her to press the button for their floor before he let himself lean against the wall to ceiling glass panels. “I was going to propose to her.”
Jennifer snapped her eyes to James. Propose to Melony? Or to Katie? He couldn’t mean Melony. He barely saw her during the year but one or twice every quarter and even those estimates were pushing it. He must have meant Katie. Jennifer found herself relieved. Yes, he meant Katie. James wasn’t looking at Jennifer anymore. Instead, he seemed to fixate on one of his luggage pieces resting on the carrier. Now everything made sense.
She couldn’t fathom why he would choose her of all people. Perhaps he was just blind to the type of woman she really was. Jennifer knew her type. She had wealth, so she preyed on wealth. It’s probably the only thing they had in common. Then again, Jennifer wasn’t exactly sure she knew what she and James had in common either, other than incredible work ethic. And good looks. Did that count?
Stretching out her hand, Jennifer touched James's arm. She felt strength, but it was nothing like Andrew’s. James turned to her and their eyes caught. She didn’t see Andrew’s mischievously, delightful grin, the one that most clearly said he was always pleasantly content with being in her presence. Wait, this wasn’t about Andrew. This was about Melone. He needed her right now.
Jennifer cleared her throat. She saw a deep pit of sadness in James. She hadn’t pegged Melone the type to fall so pitifully for a woman like Katie. He was a conqueror.
She had seen a few women pass through during her time at his side. They all looked the same: breasts too perfect to be natural and bodies that either lived at yoga classes or the gym getting toned by personal trainers. Women didn’t faze him, which is why she was so curious about Katie when she became the main chick. Did she really have what Melone wanted? Apparently. Jennifer wondered what it was. She withdrew her fingers from his body.
“I’m so sorry,” Jennifer said finally. She looked down, unable to say more.
James heaved his shoulders up. “I even brought her a ring.” He smiled pitifully. He was terrible at feigning indifference. “Want to see it?”
Jennifer’s wide eyes must have been enough of an answer because he nodded towards the hallway once the elevator came to a halt and the doors opened.
“I’ll show you in the room.”
He pushed the cart down the hall, wheels squeaking and tiny wheels turning. Jennifer’s heart tightened as they passed Andrew’s room. She pointed it out to James, but he only grunted a response. At her room, she moved quickly to get his keycard and then showed him to his room at the end of the hall.
His room had a conference center attached. It had a desk with six plump chairs, a desk, TV, and lounge chair with the bed in another, separated room. It would be perfect for tomorrow with all three of them together. The magnitude of the meeting before them began to weigh on her heart. She realized the work she had waiting for her, and then remembered Andrew’s offer to help. What a gentleman.
Inside, Jennifer claimed a spot on the red cedar conference table and let her feet swing freely. It had to be close to midnight and suddenly, she didn’t feel so tired anymore. She marveled at the ring Melone wanted to show her. Why did he want her to see it? Would he sell it? How much was it worth? Would he give it to her? She scoffed at that thought. Not likely.
“What are you smirking at?” James asked, hauling the rest of luggage just inside the conference room. Jennifer straightened her back and shook her head. She kept her lips sealed. After pushing the rack just to the right of the door outside in the hallway, James shut the door and bent down. He opened a suitcase and rummaged through the belongings.
“What are you doing?” Jennifer asked instead. She leaned back on the table with both palms. James didn’t look up.
“Getting the ring. I want you to see it.”
Jennifer bit her lip to keep from asking why. She wanted to see the ring too. Within seconds, James was standing before her with a small, light emerald box fixed with an impeccable white sash. She wondered how a millionaire would share the way he loved the woman he was with. Curiosity got the best of her; she greedily took the box and turned it in her hands. It was light. Nothing rattled when she shook it. Jennifer ran her fingers along the white bow. It seemed so simple. What kind of woman would refuse James?
She lingered on her thoughts before she realized James was urging her to open the box with his hands. He stood before her, leaning forward on the balls of his feet, waiting for something. With the tip of her fingers, Jennifer pushed the top lid back and looked. She wasn’t sure what she was expecting, but inside the box seemed a bit understated.
It was a simple ring. Thin, and adorned with diamonds. The biggest in the center was in the shape of a square. The wedding band appeared to be covered in diamonds the full length of the band. The more she looked at it the more grand it be
came. It was stunning.
Jennifer pulled the ring from the box and held it between her two fingers. No man had ever thought to propose to her, ever—as far as she was concerned. She had about three serious relationships in her past, the serious part meaning they had sex and it lasted for longer than a year.
Only one might have been classified as a serious, committed relationship, meaning she lived with them for a period. She didn’t like that though. Living with someone wasn’t the same as knowing they weren’t going to decide the living arrangement wasn’t working out and they needed you to pack your bags and bounce by yesterday. With that relationship, she made love and smiled while every day her mind wondered if they would ever be anything more.
She didn’t have to worry long; she never even made it to the second year before she was searching for a new place again.
“So what do you think?”
Jennifer looked towards James, her somber look melting away once she saw his face.
“It’s incredible.”
“Isn’t it?” He agreed, looking at the ring gripped between her thumb and forefinger.
“You must have really loved her,” Jennifer commented, not knowing what else to say. James had fallen into silence. He moved towards his luggage. She watched him shuffle the bags towards a door behind her, one she assumed led to the bedroom.
Returning her attention back to the ring, she marveled. It was so simple but so breathtakingly beautiful. She wondered how he would have done it—proposed. How did a man like James Melone present a woman like Katie with his love? She had seen the woman a couple of times. A looker for sure, with breasts, legs, and booty. No wonder men liked her, why Melone loved her. But what was she like? Did she laugh at all his jokes? Did he even joke?
Jennifer rolled the ring around, her fingertips tingling. She wondered how much a ring like that would cost. Her left hand seemed to itch. Within the seconds, she had pushed her left finger into the ring. It slipped on with ease. Smiling, she lifted her hand and spread her fingers out. The ring would have looked astonishing on anyone’s hand. On her, it just seemed large, bulky, out of place, and not hers.
“Just trying it on?” She heard James’s voice at the door and jumped.
“I’m so sorry. I’ll take it off,” she turned back to the ring and began to lift. Except it seemed nestled at the base of her finger. James rounded the side of the table and watched her.
“Can you get it off?”
“Sure,” Jennifer comforted, she tried pushing the ring up, but her finger must have swelled. It didn’t budge at all. “Is this silver?” She tried pulling the ring a little harder. It moved a bit. “It went on so easily,” she muttered, starting to panic.
James grabbed her hand and looked at the ring before looking to Jennifer.
“Why did you put it on?”
“Any would woman would have,” she said defensively.
James sighed. When he spoke, his voice was calm. “Follow me to the bathroom.”
She fell into silence as she followed his orders, still tugging at the metal around her finger. She was certain the ring didn’t resist when she put it on, but now her finger seemed like she had stuffed it on, like a swollen pickle into a shower curtain ring.
“Is this silver?” She asked again, pulling and tugging more. She was convinced she felt her finger tingling, almost burning. It prompted her to pull harder. The ring barely moved.
“It’s platinum.”
In the bathroom, James started cold water and took Jennifer’s hand. “Are you allergic?” He stared at the way her finger seemed to have been stuffed to the incredible masterpiece of diamond craftsmanship.
“I didn’t think I was.”
He must have heard the fear or concern in her voice because he looked towards her eyes. He produced a thin grin.
“We’ll get it off. It’s okay.” He pulled her hand towards the cold water, feeling some relief.
“It’s Tiffany’s,” he spoke softly, massaging the length of her thin finger. Jennifer relaxed against his soothing touch.
“You’re not mad?”
James glanced at her and laughed. “Well, I didn’t think you’d put it on.”
“I couldn’t help it,” she said in a rush. “It was just so pretty.”
He laughed again and reached for the bar soap displayed purposefully on the edge of a white round concave dish. He wet his fingers and then rubbed them with soap before he began to cover Jennifer’s hand with it.
“Hopefully, this soap will help get the ring off.”
She felt the band move. “You said it’s platinum?” Jennifer was leaning forward, hand in James’s palm as he massaged the skin around the band.
“Yes. Cost over forty thousand.”
She jumped at the figure. The bar soap slipped to sink. It fell into the rink and skidded around the wall before resting just over the immaculately cleaned drain. James still held her hand.
“It’s Tiffany’s,” he repeated.
“Oh gosh, just get it off,” Jennifer said quickly. She had no business wearing that much money on her finger. James returned his attention to her finger, massaging around the band. He touched her with care, gently tugging and pushing at the ring. She felt it moving.
“Should you close the drain?” She asked. “Just in case you drop it?”
James puffed, fully concentrated. “I won’t drop it. I’ll just catch—” There was a flurry of movement as the ring finally came off Jennifer’s finger. It immediately slipped from his hand and dropped to the sink. In a rush, Jennifer and James pushed their hands into the sink, trying to grab for the speeding ring.
She could see a glimpse of it just beneath James’s soap covered hands. Pulling back, she tried to reposition them beneath his palms, but as she did, she saw the ring bounce to the opposite side of the sink and then jump right into the drain beneath the bar soap. She froze. Jennifer didn’t breathe.
James turned the water off and pushed the soap to the countertop. They stared down at the drain. The silence of the room covered them. He turned to Jennifer and stared blankly at her.
“That was a fifty thousand two carat princess cut Tiffany diamond with a full platinum band.”
Jennifer blinked. James swore once and then again a moment later. Jennifer dared to look towards the sink.
“Can you see it in the drain?” She tried to peer around James's shoulder.
He shook his head, and then ran his hands through his hair, swearing a third time when he realized they were still covered in suds with the hotel hand wash soap. Jennifer bit her lip. Surely, this moment wasn’t funny. There was a fifty thousand dollar ring in the drain of a sink. There was nothing amusing about it—yet a giggle still escaped her throat.
It must have been the way the soap clung to James’s hair and spiked it, like gel. Except unlike gel, the suds weren’t invisible and it looked like James had combed his hair through with whipped toothpaste. The thought made her want to laugh. Her giggle erupted into a full, deep roar of rolling laughter.
At first, James’s eyes held fire. Between a breath, she pointed at his hair and erupted into a painful fit. James spied himself in the mirror. He did a double take. The second time, he swatted at his head. At first, only more suds transferred into his hair. He kept at it until most of it was batted away; with each bat, Jennifer’s laughing only intensified. She couldn’t stop herself.
She felt absolute dread at the thought of his engagement ring to his ex being down the drain, but at the moment, the only way she could express it was through crying—wait, laughing, but now she was crying, her stomach hurt, knotted from laughing too hard. A tear loosed from an eye.
James looked back at her once he was satisfied with his reflection. The fire was gone. Seconds later, he chuckled, and then reached for her face, placing suds along her jaw. Her next laugh was silent with more tears seeping through. She felt a rush of emotion, apprehension and complete sadness. How terrible it was that she was laughing at him, but she couldn’t b
ring herself to stop. James cackled harder and touched the other side of her face. Jennifer weakly tried to prevent him, but could barely catch a breath between the crying waves of laughter.
She wasn’t sure how it happened, but James put suds all over her face and hair, despite smacking his hands away several times. He was laughing now, a real laugh. She couldn’t remember the last time she heard him laugh so deeply, so full and candid. The suds must have masked the tears on her face. James never mentioned the streak of wetness sliding down her cheeks.
When her crying and laughing subsided, he was holding her left hand in his. All the suds were gone, and silence was back around them. They breathed heavily through their nostrils, chests rising and falling with each intake of air, residuals laughs just seconds from their lips.
James’s gaze traveled from her face to her hand, where he ran his thumb along the back of her palm. He touched her finger at the base where the ring had briefly made itself at home.
“Looks like a chemical burn. I think you had an allergic reaction.”
Jennifer leaned to look towards her hand. James was right. There were little blisters around her finger. She didn’t think to realize she might be allergic to the metal. Could that even happen with platinum? She sighed and pursed her lips.
James reached for her cheek and touched it lightly. Andrew had done that to her just earlier in the night. It had made her stomach flip; now, Jennifer only swallowed. James wasn’t usually so touchy.
“I’m not mad at you. I probably deserved it. Karma.” He smirked.
“Karma?”
“For ditching you.”
Jennifer nodded. After a moment, she grinned. “I gave one hell of a speech though.”
He chuckled. “You did, Angel. I heard. You impressed a lot of people.”
She smiled. Did that mean he was proud of her, like Andrew? She frowned. Did it matter if he was proud of her? Should it matter?
James followed Jennifer’s look towards the sink. “I’m going to call the front desk. See if we can get the pipes removed.”
Millionaire Romance: In Love With My Boss - A Contemporary Romance (Millionaire Romance, Contemporary Romance, Comedy Romance Book 1) Page 11
