“I know where we’re going for lunch,” I tell Jewel dryly. To Robert I say, “Yes, of course. A double-double from In-N-Out, no pickles, an order of fries, and a large Coke. Is there anything else?”
“Yeah, get yourself a double-double too. I don’t care that you’re going through this phase of not eating fast food or whatever you’re doing nowadays in terms of the nutrients you’re taking in, keeping out, whatever. You need to experience this. Did you know people come from all the way around the world to try In-N-Out? It’s true. Google it. And, just so you know, In-N-Out is probably the healthiest fast food restaurant in existence so it doesn’t even count. So don’t feel guilty for having some. And tell Jewel she can get whatever she wants. I’ll see you soon.”
And without even a goodbye, Robert hangs up.
“Do you mind In-N-Out?” I ask as I slide on my seatbelt and Jewel starts up her car.
“I love In-N-Out,” Jewel says. “But seriously, there goes the diet.”
We pull out, and right before Jewel can make a left turn out of the parking structure, I notice James Morris exit Swift Enterprises. Maybe he’s heading to lunch too. Surely he wants company…
And in that moment, my mouth reacts before my mind can formulate a good reason against my plan or to better speak the words that have already collected at the tip of my tongue. I roll down my window, lean out of the window as best as I can in a seatbelt, and shout, “Hey James!”
He looks across the street and when he notices, he smiles and starts to head over.
Excellent.
Of course, when it concerns my plan of James and Jewel getting together, I have forbidden myself to speak a word of it to Jewel. You know, just in case. I don’t want her to get her hopes up and invested in a guy who may not like her back. The whole Ethan debacle was a horror movie wrapped in a nightmare, and I don’t want Jewel to have to go through that again. She doesn’t deserve that. And okay, I have a feeling that James is such a better candidate than Ethan could ever hope to be, and even though I saw some sparks between James and Jewel at the Valentine’s Ball, I’ve come to realize that that doesn’t necessarily mean a fire has started. So I’m going to fan the flames the way I see fit, and hopefully something will catch. Without their knowledge, of course.
“And where are you two lovely ladies heading off to?” James asks me once he reaches my open window.
“Robert wants a double-double from In-N-Out,” I state. “Jewel and I were just about to head over there. Did you want to tag along? It’s on Robert, after all.”
“Well, when you put it like that…” He lets his voice trail off and his lips curl up into a mischievous grin which happens to cause Jewel to giggle. He doesn’t hesitate to get in the back, behind me, and Jewel starts on her way.
See? This is the reason why I like Jewel and James together. He makes her laugh with his smile and his teasing attitude, and I’m certain she charms him in her own adorable way. Sure, they may not have an obvious sort of chemistry between them, but don’t those stories – with such blatant opposites – make the best love stories? Trust me, I’ve read my fair share of books, seen my fair share of chick flicks, and I’m inclined to say that, yes, they do. And who to better represent those opposites than Jewel and James? Why, their love story will practically write itself! I’m just here to give them the necessary push.
In-N-Out is roughly a ten-minute drive, which we fill with the radio, James’s quirky observations and Jewel’s shy giggles. Doesn’t this just sound like romance?
“Why don’t we go inside?” I suggest, hoping that this will give the two more face time together.
The minute the three of us step inside, my nostrils are invaded by a scent nothing short of intoxicating. While other fast food chains have delectable scents that enlist the aid of food toppings such as salt and grease, In-N-Out smells fresh, clean. Not as smoky as a barbeque, unless the barbeque is used with propane instead of coals. My mouth is salivating; I feel like a dog with a treat on top of its nose, waiting to be told I can eat after waiting what feels like forever.
But I still have a mission I need to accomplish, and by the looks of the people waiting for the food and the line, the time frame I can get my two variables to interact is extended.
I turn to Jewel as she steps in line with James and give her my best innocent smile. “Hey, so I really need to use the restroom,” I tell her. “Do you think it would be possible if you get mine and Robert’s order for me?” I recite the order to her three times, enlisting the help of James in order to ensure that it’s remembered, and then I hand her the company credit card. “Remember, get whatever you guys want, okay? I should be out soon.”
Ha ha, not likely.
One of the best things about being a girl is that you can go to a public restroom – hopefully a hygienic one – and stay in there for as long as you want, and nobody even questions it. There’s either a long line or a talkative person or makeup to reapply or something you can use an excuse to dillydally. It is socially acceptable for women to be in there for goodness knows how long. And as a woman, I am going to take full advantage of that right, right now.
But how long should I give them, exactly? If I’m in the bathroom for too long, James might start to suspect something. He won’t be a jerk about it or anything, but he’s definitely smarter than Ethan is, and he could probably sniff out a setup if he catches wind of it. But if I’m in there for a too short amount of time, then Jewel and James won’t take in their chemistry on a subconscious level, and that’s a crucial component for any long-lasting relationship. Or so says Cosmo.
My timing has to be absolutely perfect.
I stand off to the side, leaning slightly on the sink with my arms crossed over my chest as I try to figure out just how much time I should give James and Jewel. Considering it was going to be a somewhat long wait, what with that line, I figure ten minutes is a safe bet. But how am I supposed to pass the time, exactly? I don’t have my iPod, and as much as society deems it acceptable that women who don’t even know each other are allowed to strike up a conversation, I, for one, don’t think I can pull it off with as much bravado as other women.
At that moment, a woman in her early thirties bursts into the bathroom, quickly shutting the door and then locking it. My muscles immediately tense and I take in the panicked look on her face.
“Are you all right?” I ask her in what I hope is a soothing voice.
“There.” She points to the door, backing away from it as if it could burn her, as though on the other side of the door is some unquenchable fire. “Someone – out there. Someone. Um. Rob. Robbing. Guns. Danger.”
The woman is in shock and I feel my heart slow to a painful beating when my mind comprehends her words.
“Someone is robbing In-N-Out?” I ask her in a low voice. It’s only me and her inside the public restroom, which means it’s my job to calm this woman down. “Even though there are tons of people here and in the drive-through?”
She still can’t formulate words just yet, but she nods. “Three,” she finally murmurs. “Maybe four. I don’t know. I just came – when I saw. He was wearing a mask – from Scream – you know? And he had a gun pointed to the back of… She was wearing pink. Her hair is blonde. Ponytail.”
Jewel.
“Is she okay?” I ask, hoping my voice doesn’t come out as sharp as it sounds.
“I, I don’t know.” She’s shaking her head. “I came in here.”
I pull out my cell phone and without waiting, I dial nine-one-one and explain the situation in a hopefully relaxed tone. But it’s sort of hard to do when you realize that your close friend is out there immersed in the danger and also happens to have a gun pointed to her back! The operator tells me that dispatch has sent officers to my location and that my call isn’t the first one about this problem.
This is all my fault. Why did I have to insist that we go inside to get the food? If I hadn’t been concerned with giving Jewel and James alone time, we would be safe in Jew
el’s Prius, with what Robert tells me is the best cheeseburger ever.
Which reminds me of how hungry I am.
When we hang up, I immediately call Robert. I’m internally freaking the eff out and I know that if anyone can calm me down, it’ll be him. Sure, he won’t be happy about the predicament I’ve gotten myself into, but I know he won’t yell at me about it.
“Yeah, Maddy, how are you enjoying the cheeseburger?”
“Robert?”
Apparently, he can immediately detect the panic in my voice because his voice suddenly becomes serious and he says, “What’s wrong?”
I swallow while closing my eyes, willing myself to keep my voice steady as I explain what I’ve heard from this woman who – after a quick glance in her direction in order to check on her wellbeing – still seems to be in shock and probably doesn’t even realize I’ve called the cops or am currently on the phone now.
“And you’re in the women’s restroom?” Robert asks when I finish.
I nod, and then remember that he’s not actually in front of me. “Ye-yeah,” I say. “But Jewel isn’t. James isn’t either. Robert, I have no idea what’s going on out there. I don’t know if Jewel and James, if they’re okay, if the guys are still out there. I just don’t know.”
“Maddy, listen to me,” Robert says in a firm but gentle voice. “You need to be calm, okay? From what you tell me, that woman needs you so you’ve got to keep it together. I’ll be down there in three minutes.”
“What, Robert you don’t –”
But he’s already hung up.
I don’t want Robert here! What if something happened to him? I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to him. I just wanted to call him because I’m scared and I –
Are those sirens?
I stop my mind from thinking and I think I’ve even stopped breathing. I hear an announcement, words, muffled, but they must be cops. My ears are twitching, waiting to hear a gunshot but hoping I won’t.
It feels like forever, but then someone knocks on the bathroom door claiming to be a police officer. I’m not sure how much time has passed and I’ve seen too many episodes of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit to fall for something so contrived.
“How do I know you’re really a cop?” I ask the door.
My companion is staring at the door, but she still looks pale and she still hasn’t moved.
“See? I told you she would say that.” The second voice is familiar and fills me with a sense of relief. “Maddy, it’s me. Robert. Excuse me, Officer, but my assistant is – I don’t care if this is something you handle. I need to make sure she’s –”
He doesn’t finish his statement because I’ve thrown open the door and launched myself at Robert, throwing my arms around him and burying my face in his chest. The officer who I assume knocked on the door goes in the restroom in order to check on the woman but I barely even notice. Robert has one arm wrapped around my waist and the other is cupping the back of my head. I think he’s whispering things like, “It’s okay,” and “I’ve got you,” into my hair, but I can’t be sure.
Once I feel my heartbeat return to normal and I’m capable of speaking, I tilt my chin up in order to lock eyes with Robert. “Where’re Jewel and James?” I ask. My voice is weak, but Robert can still hear me.
“James is taking Jewel home,” Robert tells me. “I gave her the rest of the week off with pay. She’s really shaken up.”
“Wait, it’s over?” Of course it’s over, Madeline. “How long has it been over?”
“The police arrived here about thirty seconds before I did,” Robert says. “They weren’t letting anyone in until they had the perimeter secured or whatever bullshit they told me. I wasn’t paying attention.”
“I nearly had to arrest him,” the officer says. “He was prepared to walk in there, even with the four suspects inside – all of who were armed by the way. He was prepared to risk his life just to make sure you were okay.”
The officer’s words don’t have time to sink in because soon, Robert and I are bombarded by the flashing of cameras and our ears are invaded by questions the incessant paparazzi are throwing in our direction. Not only did a group of people try to rob a crowded In-N-Out in the middle of the day, but somehow, Robert Swift is tied into it. It’s like the press’ wet dream or something.
“Let’s get out of here,” Robert murmurs to me. “Sam is around the back.”
I nod, allowing him to lead me away from the photogs and towards safety, even though, for some inexplicable reason, I feel strangely safe simply by being in his arms.
“The woman,” I say, remembering something important. “She said one of the robbers pointed a gun to Jewel’s back or something.”
“He did,” Robert tells me. We reach the car and Robert nods at Sam – silently telling him it’s time to leave – before following me inside. “But apparently, James socked the guy and managed to get the gun. Living in New York certainly prepares you for something, doesn’t it?”
“You mean James saved Jewel?” I ask, perking my brows.
Robert gives me a look. “Technically, the cops burst in just afterwards or I’m sure one of the three remaining men with guns may have used their weapons on the kid. But I suppose you could look at it from that view. And judging by the look on your face, I have a feeling you are. Just tell me one thing straight – you didn’t actually set up the robbery, right? Please, for the love of God, Maddy, tell me –”
“Of course not!” I exclaim. “How could you even think that?”
Robert raises his brow and gives me another look that says more than he can.
And, okay, maybe I’m the type of person that can arrange certain environments and events, but I would never put Jewel and James in any danger. As if! Though, I must admit, this particular scenario did happen to work in my favor…
Chapter 20
When there’s a knock on my door the next morning, I’m not surprised to find Robert there. Really, I wonder why he even bothers to knock anymore when I’ve given him a key. He looks extra-handsome today, wearing a grey suit and silk blue shirt. His hair is as messy as ever and his eyes sparkle as if he knows it but doesn’t care. My heartbeat accelerates more than normal at the sight of him standing there, and though I’m not exactly sure why that is, I have a feeling it might have to do with everything that happened yesterday.
Okay, I don’t have a hero complex or anything. And what I mean by hero complex isn’t the need to save anyone from anything, but rather the immediate surge of romantic feelings for someone who saved me. Because first of all, that person – the hero in this context – would be none other than Robert Swift, and I already know that, logically speaking, there is absolutely no way I would ever fall in love with Robert, or that he would ever fall in love with me, and if such a crazy thing did happen, it would never work out. The second reason is that I was never in the perilous situation that required rescuing. I was in the bathroom, trying to calm down another woman. I highly doubt those four robbers even knew I was in there. So Robert really wasn’t the hero and I was in no need of being rescued.
Except, okay, it was really sweet of him to rush down there and make sure everything was all right. And I would be lying if I said that when he held me in his arms, I hadn’t felt safer than I had ever felt in my entire life, and while I realize that that sounds like an exaggeration, I can assure you that it is not. I don’t remember everything he said to me because my heart was beating too loudly and the world was spinning so fast, but when he was holding me, everything slowed down and I felt like… I felt like no matter what happened, everything was going to be okay.
So that’s probably my biological response to seeing him. Not anything else, definitely not anything relating to love. That would just be ridiculous.
“Hey,” he greets me with his warm smile – when does Robert smile warmly, or maybe he does and I haven’t noticed it before? But if that’s the case, why would I notice it now? – and saunters in without waiting fo
r me to invite him.
“Hey,” I reply and shut the door. I’m dressed, but I still need to apply some gloss and mascara, style my hair, and slip on my heels. I furrow my brow as I watch him take his normal seat on my couch. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah,” he says, looking up at me. “Why do you ask?”
“Well, I know you like to keep me on my toes and everything, but is there a particular reason you’re here right now, or is this another one of your guessing games?” I have my hands on my hips and my brows pushed up, but I really am trying to maintain my patience. I’m not sure why, but it’s hard for me to maintain that position. The moment Robert walked through my door, I suddenly had this intense surge of energy and even now, I’ve dropped my arms and begun pacing.
“See, I knew you liked those guessing games,” he says with his infamous Robert Swift grin.
“I’m just glad this one’s not at two o’clock in the morning,” I reply with a tight smile of my own.
“Actually, I’m here to see Jewel.”
Jewel?
Why would he possibly need to see Jewel?
“Jewel isn’t here,” I say before clenching my teeth. It’s difficult, but I manage to refrain from saying something I may regret. And the crazy thing about this entire thing is, is that I have no idea why my initial reaction is so… negative. Jewel is Robert’s employee; he is allowed to look for her.
But why does he have to look for her at my apartment?
“Oh.” He seems surprised by this answer – I have no idea why; it’s not like Jewel and I are eight year olds and throw sleepovers, especially on a weeknight – but nods his head and then looks back up at me. He doesn’t seem intent on moving any time soon. “I just thought, you know, since you both went through something pretty major, she’d be with you.”
“If you want to talk to her, why don’t you just call her?” I’m ninety-eight percent sure that my question doesn’t sound like a smart aleck retort.
Four Sides of a Triangle: An Austen & Cufflinks Novel (The Austen & Cufflinks Series Book 1) Page 18
