by Maggie Cole
"But can't I?" He gave me a cocky, challenging stare.
I cocked my head to the side. "No, you can't."
He stepped up to me and kissed me on the head. "Take the driver. We can discuss this later." He slapped me on the ass and walked away.
"Jack," I called after him.
He kept walking, put his hand in the air with his back to me and waved, "Bye, Maddie."
I shook my head at Jack's cockiness. He had it wrong if he thought he was going to keep me under his security when I moved out. Besides, once things were sorted out with the FBI and Mike, hopefully, he would be in prison and out of our lives for good. In the car, I wondered, again, how I could have been so stupid to be with someone for six years without really knowing who they were?
And then anxiety popped up about Jack. We were moving fast. I knew it but was unsure how to take it slow. The fact was, I really didn't know him. If I was such a lousy judge of character for six years, how could I be sure about Jack?
Every fiber of my being told me that Jack was special, not only a good guy but an amazing man. But I needed to figure out what was wrong with my radar on Mike. Then, it occurred to me, it wasn't my radar on Mike because I felt for a long time he was no longer a good man.
If my radar told me he turned bad, why did I stay?
I couldn't risk getting into that situation ever again, and if Jack and I had any chance, I needed to figure that out about myself.
Casey dropped me off at the first building. I walked into the lobby and saw a stunning, blonde-haired, model-type, woman. She sat in the lobby, fidgeting with her nails. When she noticed me, she smiled at me and stood up. "Maddie?"
I smiled at her. "You must be Evelyn?"
She put her hand out. "And you're Jack's new girl?" She spoke like there was a secret she knew that I didn't.
I peered at her, not quite sure how to respond to that. Am I Jack's girl? Yes, I guess I am. But why did I feel that she didn't like the fact I was with Jack? And her tone suggested that I wouldn't be a permanent fixture in his life, and that there had been many before me.
Did Jack help all the women in his life find apartments?
I decided not to answer her question, as I felt like she didn't expect a response. "Are we able to go see the apartment?" I stared at her confidently.
"Sure, Maddie." She laughed and threw her head back and enunciated my name like I was a child.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
The elevator door shut. "So, how is Jack doing?"
"He's great, thanks for asking." I hoped to leave it at that.
"Yes. I'm sure Jack is." Her eyes scanned over me.
Even her saying his name made me feel gross. But it was official. Evelyn definitely didn't like the fact I was with Jack.
Is there a history between them or something? My stomach flipped at the thought.
We quickly reached our floor and went into the first apartment. It was a small space, typical for New York, with good light. I walked through it quickly while she tried to point out different features. I turned my back to her and rolled my eyes. Like I couldn't see those features with my own two eyes, I thought.
After the first showing, she jumped into the car with me. The smell of her perfume filled the car, and I felt slightly suffocated. She directed Casey where to take us next then sat back.
"So how long have you and Jack been seeing each other?"
I debated about what to tell her. I counted the days in my head. Ten days…I realized how pathetic that would sound. I should have told her that it was none of her business, but I found myself blurting out, "Not long."
She sneered, "Of course not, darling. Jack Stevens is not a long-term strategy."
Anger flooded my eyes. "Long-term strategy? He's not a piece of meat."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk...so innocent you are. I see why he's into you at the moment. But isn't he?" She licked her lips.
"What do you know about Jack Stevens?" I hissed.
She played with her nails. "Don't get your panties in a twist. Save that for Jack while you have him."
We pulled up to the next building. I jumped out of the car and walked away from her as fast as I could.
"Hey, where are you going? We have a full day of places to visit!"
No way would I spend another moment with her. My face was red with rage. My insides quivered. Another moment with her, and I would end up in jail for assault. I couldn't believe the nerve of that woman.
Once again, the thought that Jack may have a closer relationship than just a professional one with her punctured my heart. My stomach flopped between anger and disgust, as the smell of her perfume still filtered my nose.
"Ms. Burns," Casey called out the window as he followed me. "Please, get back in the car."
"I need some air, Casey, you can go now."
"But Mr. Stevens—"
I turned and angrily shouted, "You can tell Mr. Stevens that I am not his property, and you are not on my payroll." I spun around and felt a tad guilty that I yelled at Casey but continued to walk away.
It didn’t matter how many blocks I walked. Nothing calmed me down. I wished for my insides to stop shaking, but I couldn't stop thinking about all the nasty things Evelyn snarled at me. "Jack Stevens is not a long-term strategy," and "I see why he's into you at the moment," replayed in my head, over and over again. Tears started to gush out of my eyes.
How naive did I have to be? Jack was honest regarding his history with other women, but to have it thrown in my face like that hurt. And how could Jack change so easily from one night stands to a serious relationship? Granted, he was affected by what he witnessed, but to put it into practice, well, it couldn't be easy for him only because he thought he needed it. What if he thought that is what he needed, but realized in a few weeks or months that it wasn't?
I turned the corner, not able to wipe the tears away fast enough. I didn't want to be Jack's for the moment. It had only been ten days, but I knew I didn't want only to be a blip on his radar. Evelyn was nasty, no doubt about it, but it occurred to me that she had known Jack longer than I had.
Does that mean she knows him better? Once again, the thought of her and Jack together made me feel sick.
I walked several more blocks, not sure where I was, and wiped more tears off my face. I cursed myself that I fell for Jack at first sight, when I shouldn't have fallen for anyone until I figured out who I was and what I wanted.
Our relationship had been intense from the start, and Jack and I hadn't spent much time apart. My bad judgment about Mike resulted in years of unhappiness, and I began to think about how Jack was partners with him. I couldn't blame him. Jack was swindled as much as I was, but what happened during all those nights they partied together? Thoughts of all the things they could have done with women together flew into my mind.
As a wave of nausea hit me, I crouched on the sidewalk. I held my nausea in and slowly stood up, then continued to walk to the corner, lost deep in thought, as I tried to remove images of Jack and Mike together. I didn't hear the door of the taxi slam, or when he shouted my name.
Suddenly, Jack was at my side. He grabbed my waist and pulled me up against the side of the building. "Maddie!" His face was red and full of emotions I couldn't even decipher. His hands tilted my chin up as his thumbs brushed away my tears.
"Let me go, Jack," I hissed.
He gazed at me in confusion. "What happened? Tell me what happened so I can make it right."
I laughed, a little bit of hysteria or delirium, not sure which. I blasted him, "There goes Jack Stevens, thinking you can just make everything right, but you can't."
His head jerked back in panic. Was it panic because I was closer to the truth or because he really did want me for the long term?
"Maddie, tell me," he pleaded.
I pointed in his face. "How could you set me up with that...that woman."
"What did she say?"
"What do you have to hide?"
"With Evelyn?
Nothing. I don't understand what’s happening here."
"What's your relationship with her, Jack?"
Jack stayed calm. "She’s my real estate agent. I own a lot of properties. She finds good deals for me, we view them, and I decide if I want to buy it or not. When it’s time to sell she lists them. That's it."
"What's your past with her? Tell me the truth."
"I am telling you the truth. It's never been and never will be anything but professional with her."
"I don't believe you." I tried to shrug his hands off me and walk away, but he moved his body closer to mine and trapped me against the wall.
"Let go of me!"
"Not until we sort this out. I don't know what Evelyn told you or why she would lead you to believe anything other than she is just my real estate agent, but that’s the truth."
"So how many of your 'casual' girls has she found places for?"
His head jerked back in shock. "No one. Just you, and you know you aren't casual to me. Why?"
"Why don't you ask Evelyn." I tried again to leave, but he had me cornered and wouldn't let me go.
Jack's voice rose and began to match the anger of mine. "I don't want to ask Evelyn. I'm asking you."
"Then why would she say the things she said to me and insinuate what she did?" I fired at him.
Jack grabbed my face in his hands. "I don't know, Maddie, but if you think I would ever intentionally put you in a situation like that, you really don't know me."
"You're right, I don't," I snapped back.
He inhaled sharply and took a small step back. Hurt, insult, and disappointment all shot through his face. I don't know how long he stared at me, but the longer he stared, the more my anger turned into panic.
Pictures of Jack flew into my mind. When he grabbed me and escorted me to safety the first night in the bar and then assured me I didn't have to do anything I didn't want to. When he pulled me away from Jim, then, when Jack stopped to ask for my permission the first time we had sex. He wouldn't ever do that, and I knew that about him. "I'm sorry. I know you wouldn't ever intentionally put me in a bad situation."
"You sure about that?"
"Yes. I'm sorry I said that."
It started to snow. Tiny snowflakes covered his hair and shoulders. Jack stepped closer to me, grabbed my face, and pulled my lips to him. When he pulled back, he said, "I don't know what Evelyn is up to, but I'll get to the bottom of it."
"She wants you for herself."
"I assure you that will never happen. Come on, let's go home." He led me to the car where Casey waited.
Embarrassment surged through me, as I remembered that I yelled at Casey earlier. "Casey, I'm sorry—"
He put his hand up to stop me, and he opened the door for me to get in. "No worries ma'am. Glad you’re safe."
15
Jack
Casey called me. "We have a problem. Evelyn did something. Maddie is very upset and walking down the street. She is refusing to get in the car."
"Casey, don't let her out of your sight. I'm jumping in a cab." I stood up and was out the door, immediately hopping into a cab, as panic seized me.
Grabbing my phone, I pulled up the tracker on Maddie's phone I had secretly installed when I found out who her ex was. I didn't tell her because I knew she was already scared, but I didn't trust that Michael wouldn't try to come after her.
The tracker showed me what street she was on, and I instructed the cabbie to go quickly.
I called Evelyn. "Jack," she purred.
"Evelyn, what the fuck is going on?"
"Your girl took off. I have no idea what happened."
"Something obviously happened. What?"
"Honestly, Jack, I have no idea."
She was lying. I don't know what happened, but I would deal with her later. I didn't have the time or patience for her games. I hung up.
Then I saw her. Maddie was bent over like she was going to get sick, then stood up and started to walk again.
I threw money at the cabbie and jumped out of the cab. I ran over to her and shouted her name. When I pulled her face to mine, I could tell I surprised her.
I saw her tears, anger, and pain. I didn't know what Evelyn had done to cause this, but I needed to find out.
When I got Maddie back in the car, she didn't say anything. I just pulled her close and held her.
After we got back to the penthouse, Maddie told me she had work to do. I had a lot of work to do too. So we set up our work spots in the living room. I sat on the couch, and Maddie sat at the table. But I only pretended to work. From time to time, I snuck glances at her and continued to curse myself.
It was my job to protect her, and it included her emotional well-being. The fact that I put her in that situation made me more disgusted with myself.
She had been disrespected and not properly taken care of for the last six years, and I didn't want her ever to feel that again. And now one of my contacts had disrespected her. I didn’t know what Evelyn thought she was accomplishing, but she was going to learn what messing with Maddie would do for her career.
I gazed over at Maddie, her black hair was twisted up in a claw clip, and her fingers quickly typed. I walked over to her and nuzzled her neck.
She laughed. "Jack, I need to finish this."
I smiled at her and kissed her lips. "I'll go make us dinner."
Her head jolted up. "You cook?"
"I'm a thirty-six-year-old man. I can cook a few things."
"TV dinner?"
"Ha, ha, very funny." I gave her a quick tickle, then turned to walk away, as she smacked my ass.
I walked into the kitchen so she could finish her work.
I wasn't in the kitchen long before she came in. "Jack, we're okay, right?" Her eyes were wide, and her fingers fidgeted.
My heart throbbed. "Maddie, as long as you are okay, we are okay."
She shifted uncomfortably. "I shouldn't have insinuated that I ever thought you would put me in harm's way."
I walked over to kiss her. "Already forgotten."
"I don't want to cause problems in your business relationships."
I put her face in my hands. "You've caused no problems."
"But—"
I put my finger over her mouth. "Shhh."
But she wasn't convinced. Her eyes were full of worry, and her concern was only for me. It drove into me like a knife—that she was worried she had caused any disruption in my life.
I sternly repeated to her, "You've caused no problems."
Maddie bit her lip. She continued to be worried. I grabbed her and set her on top of the counter, so she was almost eye to eye with me. Again, I repeated, "You've caused no problems. She is replaceable. You aren't."
"Jack, you don't have to—"
I put my finger over her mouth again. "Stop. No one will disrespect you. I won't have it. Do you understand me?"
She stared at me with wide eyes.
"Maddie, do you understand me?" I needed her to tell me that she understood...because I wouldn't tolerate it from anyone.
She nodded slowly. "Yes, Jack."
"Good. Now I hope you like spaghetti."
* * *
Maddie
We spent the rest of Sunday mostly in the penthouse; both of us worked a bit and tried to avoid the topic of Evelyn. I was worried that I caused problems for Jack with his business. After everything he had done for me, it was the last thing I wanted to do.
It was like we both walked on eggshells, and the only thing that got us past it was late-night and early morning sex.
I woke up the next morning and turned over to see Jack wasn't in bed. Probably working out, I thought and threw on a robe then walked out of the bedroom.
"What the fuck was that all about, Evelyn?" I heard him bark as he paced over to the window and stared out at the morning light. His body still had sweat on it—definitely post-workout.
Jack put his hands through his hair. "No, she isn't just some girl, not that it's any of you
r concern."
There was silence as Evelyn was talking. If only I could hear what she was saying.
"All the years of business I've given you, and this is what you do? I don't understand."
I watched as Jack's shoulders tensed.
Jack shook his head. "It's not just a bit of fun, and it's not just a misunderstanding. You're fired, Evelyn. I'm taking my business elsewhere. You'll be getting a letter from my attorney today severing you from all my listings."
I winced. I guiltily thought, how much extra work did I just put on Jack's plate?
"Yes, I am serious. I'm sorry, but no one is going to disrespect Maddie. Take care, Evelyn. And if you ever come close to Maddie again, I'll make sure your relationships with any investor I know is severed," Jack threatened and hung up.
He stood at the window and stared out. His shoulder muscles were outlined in his sweaty workout shirt, and I could see the tension. I walked over to him and put my arms around his waist. "You all right?"
Jack turned around. "Did you hear all that?"
"Yes."
"I don't know why she did that, but I won't be dealing with her again. I'm sorry you had to go through that."
"Jack, it's not your fault. Let's forget about it."
He stroked my cheek, "Okay. So…as much as I'd love to start your Monday morning with a lazy day in bed, I have to get ready. I have a flight to catch."
"Oh?" He hadn't mentioned it.
"I just found out I need to be in North Carolina for a few days. I'll be back Thursday night. Dinner when I get back?"
My heart dropped. The thought of not seeing Jack for three days felt like a punishment.
"Sure."
He tilted my chin back up, "It's the quickest I could get in and out."
"It's okay. I'll miss you, but I know you still have to run your business."
He started to talk, then stopped as if he wasn't sure if he should say something or not.
Then, "Maddie, please don't argue with me about this, but I don't want you going anywhere unless Casey drives you."
I rolled my eyes.