“I won’t open the door,” Jennifer stammered.
“Don’t answer the door. Especially if they say ‘Room service.’”
“Not even for room service?”
“Did you ask for room service?”
“I guess not,” Jennifer mumbled.
“But you’re sober,” Nicole mocked. “Girl, you are slow. Don’t answer the door.”
“Okay, got ‘cha. Don’t answer the door. Say nothing. I’m dead.”
Nicole laughed. “I love you, Sugar. Gotta go, girl.”
Jennifer didn’t bother saying a response. By the time she tried, the call had already ended. She opened her eyes and wondered for a moment if James really would come to her door and pretend to be room service. She shrugged the thought away and shivered.
She didn’t want to think about how she could have just compromised the best man that had ever walked into her life, let alone acknowledge that she had severely destroyed the professional lines of boss and employee.
Squeezing her eyes shut, Jennifer managed to pull the top comforter down enough to slip her body underneath. The bed and pillow whispered her name in sultry chants and song and lulled her to sleep while her head spun and danced with the lingering specialty cocktails from the lounge. If James ever stopped by her room, she never knew because the next time she opened her eyes, it was morning.
Chapter Sixteen
One Too Many
When Jennifer peeked outside her room, there was a set of complimentary toiletries waiting for her. She grabbed them in the best stealthy way she knew how: sliding the door open quietly and snatching at the bundle, only to slam the door shut and probably wake anyone within the closest four rooms.
Her head pounded and throbbed, pulsating painfully against her skull. Her mouth was parched and dry and when she tried to brush her teeth, she actually vomited bile. All signs that she most definitely had one too many signature cocktails.
A hot shower helped massage her. But it wasn’t enough to wake her up. She wasn’t sure about the time and didn’t care about it either. James never told her what time they needed to return, but she was certain she missed any complimentary breakfast the hotel might have served.
Sun streamed through her half cracked blinds and flooded the room with light. Lazily, she pulled her same clothes back on and groaned. She hated wearing dirty clothes.
The comb provided her wasn’t much, but she used it to set her hair straight and blow-dried it to perfection. Sleek. That’s the look she had. With a pair of shades, she’d be able to mask her hangover quite well, except she didn’t have a pair of shades. She frowned at that thought. It meant she’d have to look James in the eye. She didn’t want to do that.
Chapter Seventeen
The Morning After
In the mirror, James’s reflection was flawless. What could he say? It always was, but his mind belied his looks and he really felt like shit.
And not just the metaphorical kind.
He couldn’t stop replaying the night before in his mind. He didn’t need anyone to tell him he screwed up to know it in his gut. Toss in the raving headache, borderline migraine, and dry mouth, and he had woken up questioning his sanity.
The concierge had placed an errand service to grab both him and Jennifer a change of clothes. He decided it would be best to let them contact her directly. He didn’t plan on speaking to her any sooner than was necessary.
He tried to think of what he would say, but his mind was blank. He could try to blame it on the alcohol, but that would only be a coward’s way out. Instead, like a gentleman, he planned to face things head on. That’s what he did.
Jennifer would likely try to simply forget the issue; but James just wasn’t that type of guy. He wasn’t about skeletons in the closet hanging around with everyone afraid to mention them. He was pretty straightforward and direct. Most people liked that about him. Except he hadn’t really been straightforward with Jennifer.
He tried to tell himself that she was an exception. It was a mighty tempting thing to do. Then he could explain his bizarre behavior on that wild card, but he couldn’t deny himself either.
The truth was that he didn’t regret anything that had happened, except the damn phone call that had ruined it all. He didn’t know what that was about, but the last look on her face as she left him standing outside the elevators looking stupid told him that he had somehow betrayed her. That’s what did him in.
Check out was at noon and it was already 11 am. Jennifer hadn’t called. She hadn’t even sent a text. He managed to see her briefcase and blazer back at the lounge. Yes, he had gone back to sample a few more drinks after yet another fiasco with her.
His phone was exploding with emails and missed calls from the floor front desk clerk. He didn’t know what her name was. He just remembered that she was a fake blonde with perky everything. He never gave her a second notice but he hated it when she left him work messages on his personal cell.
For one, it meant something bad was happening, and two, he was forced to listen to her annoying voice for the duration of the message. He thought about having her summarize the calls in an email, but he didn’t want to create the opportunity for too much correspondence.
He decided he would check the messages and missed calls on the plane. There wasn’t much he was going to be able to do about anything before he landed in Chicago. He was sure Jerry and Andrew must have some news for him. He was certain beyond a doubt that Andrew had sent him several updates that he didn’t even respond to. That was a stupid move.
This wasn’t a good way to run a business or start a partnership. Running his fingers through his hair, James took a deep breath and then reached for his suit top. Ready or not, he had to face Jennifer sooner or later. The pilot was on standby with a tentative departure time set for noon. It had to be sooner. Jennifer should have had more than enough time to get ready.
James gathered Jennifer’s briefcase and left the room, leaving the room key on the marble sink. Jennifer’s room was two floors down. He took the elevator silently and walked the length of the hallway briskly. He eyed the rooms and stopped hesitantly outside 1205. With a sigh, he raised his hand and knocked. When he didn’t readily hear anything, he knocked again.
“It’s James.”
There was more silence, but after a moment, the door opened and Jennifer stepped out clutching her bag. A round pair of shades hugged the bridge of her nose. The sight made him smile. Jennifer grimaced and looked away.
“So the errand service stopped by?”
“Yes,” Jennifer said flatly. She shouldered her purse and shifted on her feet. Behind her, the hotel door slowly closed. “They got me some shades,” after a period of hesitation, she added, “I’m not too keen on their choice of attire but I guess it’ll do for the ride back.”
James smirked. “Yeah, I’ll have the hotel ship your clothes back too. It won’t be a problem.” Nodding, Jennifer cleared her throat and looked down the hall. She crossed her arms at length. After running a tense hand through his hair, James nodded to Jennifer.
“How are you?”
“Hungover,” she reply curtly. “Can’t you tell?”
“No, let me see your eyes.”
Jennifer hesitated, and then reached for her glasses tentatively. She lifted them up and lowered them from her face. Her dusty brown eyes sought for James’s face. She was so gorgeous.
“You—you look fine,” James stuttered. He chortled nervously and smiled thinly. “Still beautiful.”
With a frown, Jennifer lowered her eyes. She brought the glasses to her eyes a second later and took a heaping breath.
“About last night—”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Jennifer cut in quickly and turned. She headed for the elevators and walked briskly.
Damn. I should have seen that one coming.
James sighed and walked after Jennifer leisurely. He’d wait, but it wouldn’t be for very much longer. He didn’t like tiptoeing around bushes.
In the escort car, they settled into the back easily. Jennifer placed her purse over her lap and drew the seat belt across her lap quickly. James didn’t bother with the belt. He sat the briefcase down and turned to Jennifer. He waited for her to look at him, but she fought his gaze.
With hundreds of hesitation and a grimace, Jennifer finally turned her head in his direction. As soon as she turned, however, she snapped her head back towards the back seat of the driver. James rolled his eyes and sighed loudly. Jennifer glanced again this time, but looked away a little less quickly.
James started tapping his foot loudly against the floor of the car. It was difficult to make a noise annoying enough to get Jennifer to look his way, but it was worth it. She looked at him a third time and grinned. A moment later, she chuckled and James laughed.
“Can you take off your glasses please?”
The smile vanished and Jennifer shook her head. She pressed her lips together in an effort to hide the grin that still kissed her mouth.
“Jenn,” James pressed, but Jennifer shook her head firmly. James sighed and looked at the roof of the vehicle. 34th street would be less than ten minutes away. From there, it was another helicopter ride back to New Jersey where the pilot and Carolyn would be waiting for them. He didn’t want to have this conversation with Carolyn within earshot. Then again, the driver of the vehicle would be able to hear them.
James looked towards the driver and smiled. The car had a limo design and had a partition between them. It was now, not later.
“I need to talk to you,” James said quickly. Jennifer frowned and shook her head.
“No.”
“Jennifer, please take off your glasses.”
She scoffed and turned her back to James. “I said no.”
James sighed loudly. “Please don’t make me do this.” He waited for Jennifer to respond, but she didn’t. Instead, she crossed her legs and her arms and clamped her jaw shut with renewed vigor.
“Okay, fine. As your boss, Jennifer, take off your glasses.”
Jennifer sneered this time and turned to James. “Are you seriously talking to me like that?”
Shrugging his shoulders, James repeated himself, “Take off your glasses.” She froze first, and then, with clear disgust, she removed the glasses and glared at James.
“What?” She spat the word in his face. James held her gaze steady.
“I’m sorry,” he said immediately. Jennifer didn’t move. “I’m sorry, and I mean it this time.”
“And the last time was…what?”
James sighed loudly and ignored her question. “I’m sorry about last night, Jenn.” She searched his face, hers softening considerably at length. “I don’t understand entirely what happened,” he confessed. Jennifer’s brow twitched as she searched his face. “But I am sorry. I mean it,” James repeated. He needed her to believe him. It wasn’t a lie, or a gimmick, but the truth.
Jennifer looked away, and then down. Her face wasn’t as hard, nor her poise quite as off putting. James ran his eyes over her body.
“Were you drunk last night?” He questioned her softly.
She offered him a weak shrug. “I don’t know.”
“Do you remember everything?”
Jennifer met his eyes again. “Well, I know we didn’t have sex.”
James grinned with her direct statement. “Sometimes you’re predictable, and then other times, like now, you completely blow my mind—”
“Were you drunk?”
“Not even close,” James ran a hand along his lips and nodded somberly. He tried to keep his mouth shut, but couldn’t keep the next words from tumbling out, “Why didn’t you tell me to stop?”
Jennifer replaced the glasses and looked away. “I am not having this conversation with you right now,” her voice was soft but steady and firm.
James nodded quickly. “Okay. Alright. That’s fine. I just,” he paused and sucked in air, “I’m just really sorry. I value you, Jennifer,” he looked at her but she didn’t look back. She stared out the window instead. They were near 34th street. Maybe two more minutes to go before they made it to the blast fence for drop off.
“I value you as my assistant,” James continued, “as my employee and as a woman but I didn’t show you that last night and I’m so sorry for that.”
Silence fell for over a minute before Jennifer spoke. “I don’t know what to tell you, James.”
“You don’t have to tell me anything. I just need you to know that I know I was wrong.”
Jennifer didn’t give him a response until they arrived at the heliport. Even then, it was a thinly whispered, “Thank you,” and nothing more.
Chapter Eighteen
Nowhere to Hide
Jennifer was thankful for James’s maturity on the way back. He monopolized the laptop, and she had acquired the satellite phone. She conducted several second interviews while she was on the phone and ended her work with a final selection. She wanted to see her pick of potential new hire in person and used the time to make reservations at the Terrance for Wednesday evening.
If it were another day she might have chosen to have the interview within a few short hours, but her mind was still numb. She would have sworn that she could still taste James’s kisses on her mouth and her knees grew weak just thinking about it.
The inflight meal was a large, stuffed mushroom with steak, peppers, cheese and spices that really awakened her senses. They ate in silence. By the time they landed, the hangover was officially gone, leaving only the shame in its wake.
James whispered to her that she could take the rest of the day, a full 24 hours. As far as she was concerned, that meant the morning too.
Her body didn’t fully relax until she was back in her home, and even then, she sat her phone on the kitchen table, and stared at it. Andrew had emailed her a couple more times, but he hadn’t called again. She wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad sign.
After a few second thoughts, she turned the phone off and huddled on her couch beneath a comforter and the remote. She watched movies until her windows were dark, and then she thought of Brittany in Hollywood and Nicole in New York.
She wanted to call Nicole. Catching up with Brittany was likely to be more than she could handle. Jennifer moved towards her cordless phone and lifted it from the charger. She couldn’t remember the last time she used it for anything other than ordering food when her cell phone was left in another place in the condo.
Luckily, Nicole’s number was still programmed and that number hadn’t changed. Her friend answered on the first ring.
“You remembered to call me.”
Jennifer was sure she could hear a smile in her friend’s voice. “I owe you one big time,” Jennifer responded. She cocooned with the comforter and allowed her body to relax. It didn’t though, and remained stiff.
“So, how’d it go?”
“He never came to my room and I woke up with a hangover.”
“Did you puke?”
“When I tried to brush my teeth.” Nicole sighed. Jennifer pressed her lips together and said nothing.
“What did Mr. Awesome say in the morning?”
“Please don’t call him that,” Jennifer groaned.
“Well?”
Her eyes closed wearily. “He apologized for his behavior.”
“Really? First?”
“Yes. He demanded I talk about it,” Jennifer grumbled, and then scowled, “he ordered me to take off my glasses like I was a child. Ugh, you should have been there.”
Nicole chuckled. “No thanks. I really don’t do that kind of drama. So he apologized, eh? That’s cool.”
Jennifer shrugged to herself. “I guess. He told me early Monday morning he was sorry for Friday too.”
“What happened Friday?”
“That’s when he told me he loved me, remember?”
“Oh,” Nicole whistled. “I remember now.” Silence settled over the call, getting comfortable until Nicole spoke at last. “Are you go
ing to tell me what happened?”
Jennifer frowned at length. She had been debating whether or not she would since the moment she had picked up the phone. She wanted to forget as much as the moment she had with James as she could, but she couldn’t get the taste of him out her mind or the way her body gave way beneath his strong grip.
Hesitantly, Jennifer started with the idea she had thought was so clever: to place her purse between them. She finished just short of the phone call and stopped with the breathtaking words he had muttered to her. I want you on top of me. She didn’t have the strength to recall the events after he mentioned his suite.
Nicole whistled intently. “Girl, that sounds like some steamy stuff right there,” she let out a breath of air. “So why didn’t you just tell him to stop?”
Jennifer placed a hand over her already closed eyes and rubbed hard. “Because I wanted it,” she muttered. She could tell Nicole the truth. She was far enough away to where she wouldn’t feel complete humiliation at admitting the weakness of her heart in the moment.
“Yeah,” Nicole murmured, “can’t say I would have had the strength in your situation either. That man is damned gorgeous and he knows it. Wait a minute though,” Nicole cut through her own thoughts with renewed vigor, “How’d you get him to stop? I called you and you were already in your room.”
“Oh yeah,” Jennifer frowned. “Uh…someone called me.”
Nicole was silent. After a moment, she asked, “You don’t want to tell me who?” Jennifer shook her head. She couldn’t bring herself to say anything more. “Wow. So he called?”
Jennifer chuckled. She felt tears collecting behind her eyes. Partly because she was thankful Nicole could read between the lines. The other part was due to deep sadness.
“Yeah. Great timing, but I thought he was you and I answered.”
“Oh, tell me you didn’t,” Nicole breathed.
“Yes, I did,” Jennifer sucked in breath and wiped at her cheek. “And then when I realized I screwed up I hung up on him.”
Millionaire Romance: In Love With My Personal Assistant - A Contemporary Romance (Millionaire Romance, Contemporary Romance, Comedy Romance Book 2) Page 16
