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The Willingness to Burn

Page 3

by J. P. London


  “So, I’ll wait for you in the lobby?” Maddy asked.

  “Was he serious?” Jace asked coyly.

  “Oh yes. In fact, if there’s not a bill from a clothing store on this card tomorrow, I’ll be in trouble.”

  “Hmm, well, we wouldn’t want that, would we?”

  “No, no, we wouldn’t. So I’ll be in the lobby. Oh, and after we get you some new digs, you’re taking me out to lunch, because I totally gave you the alley-oop on this sale.”

  Jace laughed. “Deal.”

  Maddy walked out of the conference room and turned her head to see Jace once more before stepping out of the door and letting it swing closed.

  Jace leaped off the ground and punched wildly into the air. “Wheeeeew!” he let out in a low but strong throat sound. Then landed and cleared his throat and adjusted his jacket. Moments later, Mark walked back into the conference room. He calmly locked the door then gave the “Oh my fucking God” look to Jace.

  “That was fucking amazing,” Mark declared.

  “Right?” The two men embraced in a celebration.

  “Jace, seriously, one of the best pitches I’ve ever seen you do. And goddamn if it wasn’t for the right person.”

  “Thanks.”

  “So wait, what did he mean it was his coffee?”

  “Well, what I was trying to tell you before, is that the girl that was with him, Maddy,? Mark nodded. “She’s the one who threw coffee all over me.”

  “No shit.”

  “Yeah, right before I came in,” Jace explained.

  “Wow.”

  “Yeah, no wonder, right?”

  “Well, shit, if it was that easy, I’d get coffee thrown on me before every meeting,” Mark joked.

  “I know, right? Hey, listen, she asked me to take her to lunch after we get—”

  Mark interrupted. “Go! Get out of here! Expense everything. Take to her to lunch, dinner, the fucking Caribbean for the weekend, I don’t care.”

  Jace laughed. “Hey, don’t tempt me.”

  “Hey, man, you just landed us ninety seven million dollars. Go nuts.”

  Jace tilted his head to the side. “All right, I think I can do that.”

  Chapter 3

  “Hey,” Jace said, walking out to the pretty blonde reading a magazine in the lobby.

  She grinned. “Hey yourself.”

  “So shall we?”

  “After you, Sir,” Maddy responded.

  Jace stepped forward and opened the glass door. “No, after you.”

  Maddy smiled and eyed him up as she walked thought the transparent doors. Jace followed her and they walked out into the vestibule and Jace pressed the button for the elevator.

  “So where are we going?”

  “Well, funny you should ask. I asked Brent where I should take you and he sent me an address.”

  “So, where are we going?”

  “It’s a surprise,” Maddy teased.

  “I hate surprises.”

  The elevator dinged and the steel doors opened to an empty room. Jace extended his arm and Maddy stepped in the room.

  “Oh, you’re no fun, but you are polite.”

  Jace smirked. “I certainly try.” He smiled at her. “All right fine, I’ll go on your mystery trip.”

  “Like you had a choice.”

  Jace nodded his head to the side in silent concession.

  *

  The couple walked the crowded street to their destination. Upon reaching the store, Jace recognized a dark wood frame around the building store front. The carved sign “John Philips” cast overhead, a sure sign that he was in the presence of a place that required a little more than a junior account man’s salary. The door swung open. It was a nice space. The building obviously was not meant for mass consumption. The doors were composed mostly of a wood substitute and had an old world class to them that couldn’t be matched by today’s modern buildings.

  “After were done here, we’ll go have some fun,” Jace said.

  “We can have fun here too.”

  Jace raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really?”

  “Yeah, all depends …”

  “On what?”

  “How good are you on your toes?” Maddy asked with a devious grin.

  “I’m better on my back,” Jace responded quickly.

  Maddy laughed. “You’re trouble, aren’t you?”

  To that, Jace winked.

  A short man approached them upon entering the store. He was adorned in a classic almost butler-ish outfit. However, you could tell from the texture of the cloth that the man was no butler. His graying hair was impeccably slicked back and his mannerisms were proper to all respects.

  “Good morning, Sir. How can I help you?”

  “I think I …,” Jace began.

  “He needs a new suit, shirt, and tie,” Maddy completed for him.

  Jace glanced back at Maddy.

  “We can certainly help you with that, Sir. My name is Richard; it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “Thank you, Richard, I’m Jace, this is Maddy.”

  “Will Maddy be joining us?”

  Before Jace could response, Maddy spoke out. “I’d better be, I’m his wife.”

  “Oh, I’m quite sorry, ma’am.”

  Jace paused and averted his gaze from the gentlemen to the blonde behind him. Then he looked back at the man.

  “Ex-wife. Don’t worry, she makes that mistake all the time.” Jace glared back at Maddy falsely, allowing himself a grin after Richard turned his head.

  Maddy pursed her lips together and stared him down. Jace winked at her. Two can play this game, he thought to himself.

  Richard led the couple into a sitting room complete with a small stage used for measurements and fittings that had been surrounded by mirrors. He walked them to a pair of matching, supple, leather chairs and extended his arm offering them a seat.

  “Can I offer you a two a drink?”

  Jace smiled to himself and glanced at Maddy. “Well its five o’clock somewhere. Sure, I’ll have a scotch, and my wife will have a glass of Pinot Grigio.” Maddy opened her mouth to object but then said nothing.

  “Ma’am?”

  Maddy nodded. “That would be great.”

  “Certainly, and let’s see if we can find you something that you’ll love to replace that suit.” Richard beamed warmly.

  “That would be great.” Jace smiled back as Richard vanished into a different part of the store. As soon as he was out of sight, he quickly turned to his co-conspirator.

  “So, what were you going to say?”

  “When?” Maddy asked innocently.

  “Just now.”

  “Oh, I was going to correct you and order the right drink.”

  “And what stopped you?”

  “Well, I didn’t want to blow your cover; a man who doesn’t know his wife’s drink of choice isn’t very believable.”

  “Ex-wife’s drink, and by blow my cover you mean that I totally nailed it.” Jace waggled his eyebrows.

  “Pinot is a good shopping wine! Everyone knows that!”

  Jace laughed.

  A younger man, no older then eighteen but still dressed well, came out with a tray with their drinks on it.

  “Thank you,” Jace said as the young man placed their drinks on the end table.

  “You know, I’m told that Pinot is a great shopping wine.” Jace grinned.

  “Is that so?” the young man responded.

  “So I’m told.”

  The young man smiled politely. As he was retreating back from once he came, Richard returned carrying a light-gray suit. The moment his eyes fell upon it, Jace fell in love. It was a similar pattern to the formally uncoffee-stained suit that laid upon his shoulders, only it was constructed of a much better material. The suit was made of wool but could have passed for silk. The pattern was rivaled only by the texture, and upon touching the formidable fabric, Jace felt an instant lust for the amenities that are afforded to hedge fund manager, a
man who can afford to come here and pay Richard nearly ten thousand dollars for an ensemble.

  “That’s perfect.” Jace beamed.

  “Do you have anything in a darker color?” Maddy asked.

  “But of course.”

  Jace snapped out of his fabric-induced daydream. “Nah, you know, I like this one.”

  “Well, it wouldn’t kill you to at least look at the darker one,” Maddy jeered.

  Jace gritted his teeth. Not really angry, just playing the role and glanced back at her. “No, darling, I suppose it wouldn’t.”

  Richard brought out the next suit, and it looked just as exquisite as the first one. Jace threw it over his shoulders, and yet again, when the fabric touched his skin, he got the same warm feeling of futuristic nostalgia. It was a beautiful piece of craftsmanship. He eyed himself in the mirror.

  “You know, I think I’m going to go with the lighter option.”

  “Very good, sir.”

  Jace took off the jacket and handed it to Richard.

  “You’re just saying that because I suggested the darker one.”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “That’s so childish.”

  Jace turned away from Richard and faced Maddy.“You’re a child!”

  Maddy stood up, seemingly angry. “I’m your wife.”

  “Ex-wife.”

  Maddy gasped and threw her hair to the side. “How could you?”

  “Well, since we’re divorced, that makes you my ex.”

  “That makes us separated.”

  “Seriously now?”

  “We’re not legally divorced yet.”

  “That’s because you won’t sign the paperwork,” Jace countered.

  Maddy changed her stance and facial expressions from aggressive to playfulness. “This is so us.”

  Jace’s eyes shot open. He took two slow paces toward Maddy. She inhaled deeply and extended her hands behind her as though she was reaching for the wall.

  “Tell me again,” he said.

  “Tell you what?” she said coyly.

  “You know what,” Jace continued to close the gap between them.

  “You’re the best I ever had.”

  Jace grabbed Maddy by the throat and held her firm. “Say it again, louder.”

  “You’re the be—”

  Jace pressed her hard against the wall. He planted a strong kiss on her lips, and upon the converging of their two mouths, he felt the texture of her tongue, the smell of her hair, and the feel of her skin, and he realized that the best amenities aren’t bought at a custom tailor. The two parted their lips and Jace looked over his shoulder.

  “Guess we lost him. “

  “Yeah,” Maddy responded and threw her arm around his neck and pulled him in closer for a kiss. Their lips met, and with the synergistic effects of two merging lightning storms, their energies transpired as their lips and tongues gently played with one another. Their lips parted ways yet again.

  “I was wondering how long it would take you to kiss me,” Maddy said.

  “It’s barely eleven,” Jace said in his own defense.

  “Sweetie, you had me at, ‘Why are you laughing?’”

  “Oh, you’re an evil bitch.”

  “You know it.”

  They embraced again for a kiss. At that moment, Richard walked back into the room. He took two steps in, and at this point was able to witness that he may have returned a moment too soon so he stood at the entrance to the room and cleared his throat.

  They broke again, and Maddy began to whisper softly to Jace, “I do think you should go with the charcoal gray, though. It brings out your eyes more.”

  “My eyes are brown.”

  “Yeah, but they’re light brown. Trust me, I’m good at this sort of thing.”

  Jace looked to the side and smiled then looked back at his blonde companion. “You win.”

  Jace looked about and his eyes fell on a patient Richard waiting in the doorway.

  “I think we’re ready.”

  “Yes, Sir.“

  Jace walked over and picked up the glass of wine; he handed it to Maddy and grabbed his glass of scotch.

  “I think we’re going to go with the charcoal-gray suit.”

  “Are you sure, Sir?”

  “Yes … My wife, ex or not, is quite convincing.” Jace took a sip of his drink.

  “Very good, Sir.”

  Maddy sat patiently as Jace got fitted for his suit. After being fitted, he picked out a new white shirt, put it on, and casually threw out his original suit jacket. That thing was a relic of an older lifestyle anyway. It was merely a key that had broken upon opening the next door in his life.

  Chapter 4

  Just outside of John Phillips, Jace and Maddy strolled slowly side by side down the busy street.

  “So, now—”

  “Now you need to get me lunch because I am starving, and I’m not so nice when I’m hungry,” Maddy instructed.

  “So, before you were being nice?”

  “When I locked down a sale for you and got you a promotion? Yes, that was me being nice.”

  “A promotion?”

  “Well, isn’t that what you were talking about? This being an important day for you?”

  “Who said it was a promotion?”

  “I did.”

  “Well, maybe you’re wrong.”

  “Yeah, but most likely I’m right.”

  “You sure about that?”

  Maddy stopped walking and stood still staring at Jace, a look of suspicion scowled across her face.

  After a moment of quiet contempt, Jace conceded, “All right, yes, I think you got me a promotion.”

  “See.”

  “Oh, shut up.”

  “Hey, watch it, Mr.”

  “So, Miss Just-Got-Me-a-Promotion, where can I take you for lunch?”

  “What’s good around here?”

  “Well, there are a lot of options, what are you in the mood for?”

  “Something fun.” She flashed him a devilish grin.

  “Something fun?” Jace paused and pondered a moment.

  “Yeah.” Maddy put her finger to her lip, walking slowly, and thought for a moment. Then, she stopped all together, and a suddenly excited look came over her face.

  “Oh my god! Can we go to Dave and Buster’s?” Maddy stopped walking and turned to face Jace, her expression riddled with anticipation.

  “Seriously?” Jace asked, puzzled, having come accustomed to the higher end establishments that everyone suggests when their told that the lavish expensive account is at their disposal.

  “Yes!” She slapped his arm.

  “The kids place with all the games?”

  “The kids place with a full bar? Yeah, that kids place.”

  “Sure.” Jack chuckled. He looked over at his beaming companion, and although he never had a doubt, he realized that she truly was different then every other girl he had met since he started at Shooter & McManus.

  “All right, let’s go!” she exclaimed.

  A short walk later, the pair entered into the sprawling foyer of one of the most entertaining and expensive places to bring kids and adults. A place where games were played with cards and not coins. That way, you never really knew how much you were spending or how much you wasted at any one place.

  The two stepped onto the large escalator and began their ascension to the top.

  “So, how did you end up where you are?”

  “You mean here at Dave and Buster’s?” she continued, not pausing for an answer “Well, I met this guy.”

  Jace rolled his eyes. “You never give an straight answer do you?”

  She leaned her face in and spoke in a teasing tone. “No, not when there’s fun to be had.”

  Upon reaching the top of the escalator, both Jace and Maddy became distracted. The flashing lights and zany sounds of the game room were intoxicating from the top of the escalator. The normal gatekeeper, the hostess stand, was empty at the moment and the pair to
ok this opportunity to stroll into the casino-like environment of the game room.

  “Okay …. This was a good idea,” Jace admitted.

  “Why, thank you.”

  Jace looked about, seemingly distracted by all of the bright lights and flashing colors.

  “So, Brent’s daughter and I are friends,” Maddy said, breaking his daydream.

  Jace snapped back into the conversation. “Oh, yeah?”

  “Yeah, for like a million years now.”

  “You look amazing for your age.”

  “Thanks, the secret is lemon juice.”

  “Lemon juice?”

  “Yeah, it really tightens the pores.”

  “Interesting.”

  Jace strolled, letting his feet drag on the hideous carpets as they passed by the skee ball games and rounded the corner toward the bar.

  “Yeah, so after college, I started working there first as a secretary, then as an assistant.”

  “And what do you do now?”

  “That’s where it gets weird. I think I’m an assistant still.”

  “Why do you only think that?” Jace asked as the two reached the bar. A place, that in a room full of distractions, still beckoned and pulled them in like gravity.

  “Well, so, my official title is special assistant.”

  “You are special,” Jace said with a sarcastic tone as he flagged down the bartender.

  “You too, Ed,” Maddy sassed back at him, giving Jace a wink. He shot her a look back.

  “I need a Jack and Coke and whatever she—”

  “Two please!” Maddy interrupted. The bartender nodded and stepped away to make their drinks.

  Jace turned to face her and raised his eyebrows as though to ask her to continue.

  “And I fulfill the roles of an assistant, I manage his schedule, run errands, buy gifts for his wife and daughter. But lately, Brent’s been using me as a sounding board too.”

  “A sounding board?”

  “Yeah, like asking me my opinion and telling me his thought process, you know, really explaining things to me. It almost feels like he’s mentoring me.”

  “Really?”

  “That’s the way it seems. I mean, maybe it’s just wishful thinking, but a CEO doesn’t have to explain things to his assistant.”

  “That’s true,” Jace said and leaned his elbows on the bar. “So, did you know walking into my firm that you guys weren’t going to sign with us, or was that just a story?”

 

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