by M. Sembera
Emerson shifted on the bed. I couldn’t tell if he was trying to remember exactly what happened or deciding what he was going to tell me.
“Telli agreed to meet with me. I told him everything. He already knew about you and Hert but when I told him about Mr. Ramsden, he said we should go to Hert. I knew Hert would not believe me but with Telli… then they showed up. Telli told me to go. I stood there Ren, I saw. Mr. Ramsden was there. He told me he was proud of me for…he said something about loyalty and weak links and…” Em shared before I stopped him, saying, “I understand now.”
Wondering if I myself had made a mistake, I questioned, “Who is they?”
“Mr. Ramsden and I think I heard him call the guy Henry,” he replied before asking, “Are you okay?”
I didn’t realize until Em said something, I was twisting the sheet in my hand as all the muscles in my body tensed. Reminding myself, The Brothers tended to Henry, I tried to calm down.
I laid back on the bed and closed my eyes. Although I was curious as to what else Ramsden was involved in, I needed a minute to gather my thoughts and decide what to do about this. The memory of Telli being dragged into the house and how I couldn’t even tell it was him at first, made my stomach turn. Opening my eyes, I looked up at Emerson.
Seeing the expression on his face, I asked, “Are you afraid?”
Glancing down, he nodded.
Suddenly I was angry as I hopped up and assured, “Don’t be. Telli didn’t get killed doing the wrong thing, he was going to stand up against a wrong person.” Em gave me a strange look as I continued informing, “The Office belongs to me right now and I’ll be damned if I’m gonna let Ramsden keep doing this.”
Giving me a confused look, Emerson asked, “What?” before I turned and hurried out of the room.
My mind was racing and although my emotions were leading me, I made my judgment call.
Picking up the phone in my room, I dialed Hert’s number at The Office.
The moment he answered, I asked, “Where is Ramsden?”
There was a pause before Hert replied, “He left about thirty minutes ago.”
“Ok, call him and tell him to call me in your office at the house,” I said.
There was a hint of irritation in his voice as he agreed, saying, “Yes ma’am.”
Not feeling the need to tend Hert’s ego at the moment, I ordered, “And clear your schedule, you’re not going in tomorrow.”
Hanging up the phone before I received a reply, I dialed The Brothers’ number.
One and a half rings was all it took before I heard Ignacio’s voice on the other end of the line.
“Mrs. Herterand,” he answered.
Unable to keep from smiling, I said, “Wow, you're prompt.”
His tone revealed a hint of humor as he replied, “I was afraid if I didn’t answer quickly there would be a knock at my door.”
With a slight laugh, I offered, “I am trying to work on my disorder.”
In background, I heard Fiore ask ‘What are you smiling at?’ then heard a loud ‘Ouh’ before Ignacio cleared his throat and said, “I appreciate that.”
Shaking my head at his resistance to our friendship, I informed, “I just wanted to give you a heads up, I am having Ramsden come to the house tomorrow for the share transfer agreements.”
“Would you like us in attendance?” he asked.
“No, but I will call after so if I don’t, you know,” I replied.
“I need a time frame,” he stated before I asked, “Two hours?”
Ignacio replied, “Yes ma’am,” just as I heard the phone in Hert’s office ringing.
Quickly ending the conversation, I said, “Okay, thanks,” and hung up the phone.
Darting through the hall and into Hert’s home office, I swung his door open. Leaping to the desk, I grabbed the phone.
“Hello?” I answered, wondering if I should have answered a different way.
Ramsden’s voice came through the receiver as he snapped, “Yes.”
Instantly making a face at the phone, I questioned, “Have you finished the share agreements?”
“They are complete and awaiting signatures why?” he replied in a condescending tone.
Resisting the urge to tell him what I thought he was, I stated, “Good, bring them to the house at nine tomorrow.”
As if he was arguing with me, he informed, “There is an issue with one of the contracts.”
“What?” I griped before he stated, “The agreement has been prepared. The issue lies in who will sign it.”
Frustrated, I said, “What are you talking about?”
“Unless you or Scott hold his power of attorney, Emerson Roberts’ share transfer contract cannot be signed,” he slowly replied, implying I wasn’t very smart.
Taking a deep breath, I stated, “If you have the three agreements prepared and my final share holdings contract, then you be here at nine like I said and let me worry about the technicalities.”
I wasn’t surprised that Ramsden hung up on me right after that.
Glancing around Hert’s office, I sat down in his desk chair. Opening a bottom drawer, I saw a stack of empty file folders. I pulled one out and set it on the desk. Rummaging through the other drawers, I found a large stamper. Turning the letters, I stamped SPR on the front of the empty folder. Moving the letters back, I tossed the stamper in the drawer. I picked up the empty folder, stood up and carried it to my room with me. Thinking of a list of things I needed to accomplish before tomorrow, I took a shower and got dressed. After pulling my hair up and putting my makeup on, I told Emerson I would be gone for a while and left.
JPT Financial was my first stop. Hoping Jackson was there, I would be able to talk to him in a controlled environment after I met with Mr. Thomas. I smiled at the receptionist that waved at me as I walked past her. Making my way to Mr. Thomas’ office, I noticed several people sitting in chairs with papers in hand.
Stopping at the desk in front of Mr. Thomas’ office, I asked his secretary, “Is Mr. Thomas free?”
Politely nodding, she picked up her phone and said, “Mr. Thomas, Mrs. Herterand is here to see you.”
She motioned for me to go in before I walked past her desk and into Mr. Thomas’ office.
Shaking my head as I closed the door behind me, I said, “You’re not the Mr. Thomas I was coming to see.”
Jackson remained seated behind the desk as he replied, “My dad’s at lunch, I’m conducting interviews.”
“Oh,” I sighed before he asked, “Is there something I can help you with?”
“I do need to talk to you too but I really came to see your dad,” I shared.
Nodding at me, his expression remained reserved as he asked, “Are you making a trip to The Bar to see Gus after here?” When I nodded, he questioned, “So what do you need me for? Didn’t you already make that stop?”
“The share agreements are ready,” I replied before asking, “Can you come to the house at eight tomorrow morning?”
I could tell he was unhappy about coming to the house as he answered, “If you need me to I can.”
“Thank you,” I appreciated before asking, “Do you know when your dad will be back?”
Standing up, he stepped away from the desk, saying, “In just a few minutes, you can have a seat.”
As Jackson started to walk past me, I caught the side of his shirt with my hand, stopping him.
I didn’t like the way it felt to talk to him like we were strangers. It was ridiculous. He wasn’t acting like himself.
“Are you really that mad at me?” I asked.
With a heavy sigh, he turned and faced me saying, “You show up at my apartment in the middle of the night. Then you…” stopping to shake his head, he continued, “I wanted you to come back inside but all you wanted to do was talk about the shares.” Glancing down at my hand still holding the side of his shirt, he took a step back and said, “I know I am the one that made the decision and you are holding me to it but Re
n, you can’t keep doing this to me.”
Exhaling slowly, I asked, “What am I doing?”
“You’re playing with me,” he answered before informing, “We were so close this time. Then like always, you yank it all back away from me.”
Stunned, I couldn’t believe that was how he felt.
Shaking my head at him, I defended myself, saying, “You think I’m playing with you? I have to make an active effort not to think about you. I sleep with your damn hoodie under my pillow just so I can feel like I’m close to you. Everything was good, I enjoyed our friendship and my feelings for you but then you just pushed and pushed. You don’t understand how hard it is for me when I’m with you. You just… I don’t want it to be the way it is but that doesn’t change the way it is. Even when I dream about us it doesn’t work out.”
When I saw the look on his face, I wished I had just let him walk out.
Jackson stood there looking at me without saying a word. Scowling to keep from crying, I jumped a little when the door opened. Mr. Thomas took one look at the two of us and quickly shut the door behind himself.
Stepping to Jackson and I, he questioned, “What’s going on?”
Turning to face Mr. Thomas, I looked up and said, “Its long over-due but I owe you a thank you.” Giving me a smile while shaking his head, my eyes filled up with tears as I shared, “My father never laid a hand on me after that night.”
With an appreciative smile, Mr. Thomas assured, “You’re welcome Ren.” Then placing his arm around my shoulders, he offered, “Don’t get all teary eyed on me, anyone would have done the same.”
Knowing his logic was part of what made him such a wonderful man, I cleared my throat and shared, “No they wouldn’t because they didn’t you did and Gus,” stopping to glance at Jackson, I added, “…and Jackson.”
Unable to hold back, I turned and hugged him, when Mr. Thomas said, “That’s what family does.”
Pulling back, I nodded saying, “But you had just met me.”
“You haven’t figured out yet that when one of us loves you we all do?” he teased.
Pretending his comment didn’t just almost kill me, I smiled and said, “Thank you.”
Mr. Thomas gave me another hug before stepping away.
Thinking I’d better get Gus thanked so I could head over to pick Sophia up from Mrs. Thomas, I gave Mr. Thomas another smile and headed out of his office. Walking out of JPT Financial, after thanking Mr. Thomas, I wondered how strangers became my family and how it turned out I never really knew the people I grew up with. Smiling at the thought of seeing Gus, I opened my car door. Pulling the driver’s side door closed after I slid in, I stopped when Jackson grabbed hold of it.
With a heavy sigh I hopped out and snapped, “You have got to stop doing that!”
“I’m sorry,” he blurted before giving me a light smile and saying, “I know why you are the way you are and you’re right, I shouldn’t have pushed you like that.”
Shaking my head at him, I said, “Jacks, you don’t need to be sorry.”
“It might take me a while but I’ll figure out a way for us to be friends,” Jackson shared.
Rolling my eyes, I argued, “You’re supposed to be moving on after this. Find someone, get married, have a bunch of kids.”
“That’s what you want me to do?” he asked.
Clearing my throat, I took a quick breath and stated, “Yes! Jackson that is exactly what I want you to do.”
He looked at me like I was insane, then turned and walked back into the building.
Sighing with relief, now that I was back in my car and on the road, I hoped that was the last time I was going to have to say goodbye to our relationship. Admittedly, I was getting better at it but still, why wouldn’t he just let go.
I arrived at The Bar just as Gus was opening up. Thinking about the first time I met him and how mad he was at Jackson for taking me out, he even told him something was wrong with him. Practically running, I caught up with him at the door.
“Lil’ early for you to be drinkin’,” he laughed, letting us both in.
The moment we entered The Bar, I threw my arms around Gus and held on tight.
Still laughing, he said, “Whoa girl, you know I’m married don’t ya?”
Laughing too now, I let go whipping tears out of my eyes as I said, “Gus, I just don’t know what to say to you.”
“Well come on back while I open up and you can figure it out,” he said, walking to the back.
When he flipped the lights on, I took a deep breath and blurted, “Gus!”
Giving me a confused smile, he waited for me to speak.
Finding it a little harder than I originally thought it would be, I started tearing up again as I asked, “You make it a habit of helping out little dago girls with jerk fathers?”
Gus’ smile softened as he replied, “Auh, I’ll take any excuse to kick some guinea ass,” giving me a wink.
“Thank you,” I said before sharing, “You’re a good man Auggie Gus.”
Scrunching up one side of his face, Gus leaned in and cautioned, “Don’t be speadin’ that around girl, I’ll have to close down my bar and get a real job.”
Laughing at him, I hugged him tight as he lifted me off the ground nearly suffocating me.
On the way to pick up Sophia, I felt good about telling Gus and Mr. Thomas thank you. Jackson’s family were by no means perfect but they were wonderful. After everything I had done, all the mistakes I had made, they loved me just the same. When I arrived to pick up Sophia, Mrs. Thomas offered to keep her another night after advising I get some rest. Hesitating at first, I realized with Ramsden coming to the house in the morning, Sophia was better off there, just in case. I hugged her tight and told her I loved her before doing the same with Sophia.
Chapter 14
Sleep didn’t seem like a priority until my alarm went off at six. Dragging myself out of bed, I walked to my bathroom. After showering, I stood in front of my closet trying to decide what to wear. It didn’t really matter what I wore to sign papers but I wanted to command their attention and appear in control of the situation. Grabbing a pair of slacks and a fitted low cut blouse, I knew I would have the upper hand just in case Hert started to waiver. Plus, it would bug the hell out of Ramsden which would be a huge bonus for me. Once I was fully dressed, my makeup was on and my hair was fixed, I slid my heals on and headed downstairs.
Hert was the first to comment on my attire as sat on a barstool leaning over the bar eating my toast.
“Good Morning,” he greeted not really focusing on my face.
With a slight smirk, I chirped, “Morning.”
Hert raised an eyebrow, questioning, “Is this your idea of Office attire?”
Hopping off the stool, I set my plate in the sink saying, “Possibly.”
“Don’t expect a lot of eye contact from your employees,” he said with a laugh.
I couldn’t help laughing too. As we laughed together, Jackson walked in the back door. Both Hert and I turned to look at him. He looked uncomfortable. Taking deep a breath, I walked over to him. Hert excused himself to the living room with an unhappy expression on his face.
“Can I talk to you outside?” I asked almost at a whisper.
Nodding, Jackson turned and walked back out of the door.
Stopping when we reached the garage, I wished this would be over quickly. I wasn’t really thinking of Jackson when I got dressed but now that he was here, I wondered what he thought of my wardrobe selection.
I got my answer as soon as he turned around and griped, “Tell me again how you’re not playing with me.”
All of a sudden very self-conscious, I frowned, saying, “I didn’t dress like this for your benefit.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” he snapped.
With a heavy sigh, I asked, “Do you want me to go change?”
Staring at me, he replied, “I want to sign the papers and go home.”
Nodding at hi
m, I said, “I just need one other little thing. Can you help me?” Continuing to stare at me without answering, he stood there while I explained, “Can you read over the share agreements and pay close attention to everything? I need to make sure I don’t miss anything.”
Giving me a quick nod, he headed into the house.
After watching him walk into the house, I decided maybe I was going too far. In an effort to have things in my favor, I hurt Jackson again. How many more times would he allow that to happen before he started to hate me? The thought burned through my chest. I never wanted him to hate me. Shaking my head at myself, I walked back into the house.
“Where is Em?” I asked as I walked past Hert.
Looking down at me, he replied, “Already in the dining room, before asking, “Where are you going?”
Keeping my eyes away from Jackson, I answered, “I’m going to go change.
Hert gave me a strange look then scowled, glancing over at Jackson.
It was too late. Before I made it to the stairs, the doorbell rang. Ramsden had arrived and I needed to get this over with. Changing my direction, I headed towards the front door. Opening the door wide, I saw Ramsden standing there with a woman behind him.
Before I had a chance to ask, he introduced, “This is Mrs. Kreme she is a notary.”
“I see,” I said as he motioned for her to follow him into the house.
Handing me a file, he walked past me, stating, “I assume you will read before signing.”
Shutting the door behind him, I replied, “I will, come in and have a seat.”
Hert stepped into the room giving Ramsden a respectful nod as he greeted, “Mr. Ramsden.”
As they shook hands, I carried the file into the kitchen.
I asked Jackson to read the contracts for me, knowing he would remember every word. After checking on Emerson and assuring him everything would be fine, I called Jackson into the dining room. Taking a few deep breaths, I hoped this was the beginning and not the end for the four of us. Making my way back to the living room, I called Hert, Ramsden and Mrs. Kreme to join us. Quickly making my way back, I wanted to see the expression on Ramsden’s face the moment he saw Emerson.
As expected, Ramsden did not disappoint. He was rattled even though he never said a word. Every time I caught sight of Ramsden glancing in my direction, I gave him a knowing smirk. Emerson was clearly nervous but hid it well. Jackson quickly signed and tossed the pen back on the table. When it came time for Hert, I could have sworn I saw his hand shake. Then it was my turn. Mostly for effect, I sat at the head of the table. Glancing around at them, to prolong the moment, I noticed Jackson give me a nod. Sitting up tall, I placed the pen to the paper and assumed control of The Office.
