Trusting Jay: (A Chicago Suits Romance) (Loving Jay Book 1)

by Simone Sowood

  Someone had left an empty box on my old desk. I dropped it on the floor, sat in my old chair and opened my old desk drawers. I put the recycling bin beside the empty box. Might as well clear out the files I don’t need now.

  I started in the bottom drawer and was about halfway through it when I heard Sam’s telltale heavy feet.

  “Good morning boss.” I stood up at the sound of her voice.

  “Morning!” I hugged her.

  We chatted for a few minutes. I was confident Sam was happy, and it relaxed me. I guess she figured never having to see Calvin again made up for not getting the promotion.

  I sat back in my chair and returned to my task of sorting through the files. Weird, the files at the back are all jumbled up. Like a good accountant, I’m always careful to keep things organized.

  After sorting through a few more papers I realized the file of damning emails I kept on Calvin was missing. I riffled through the entire drawer and box again looking for it. Strange. I know it was there. I had it in my hands ready to hand in so many times in the past few weeks.

  Where was it? Had someone been through my papers? No one knew about it, other than Jay. It must have been Calvin. I bet he went through my stuff when I wasn’t at work and found it. He must have known he was on the verge of being fired and got rid of any damning evidence.

  The idea that he had been through my stuff, riffled through my tampons and Snicker bar stash, made me uneasy.

  I sorted through the rest of my stuff and picked up the box.

  “I’m outta here,” I said to Sam and laughed.

  “Enjoy your ivory tower.”

  “I’ll try to remember you.”

  “Try not to forget who you really are.”

  I blew a raspberry at her and walked the three paces to my office. Was spending the morning organizing my stuff a good use of my time? What would Richard make of it? Already we were a body down. Although that body was Calvin, and I’d never been convinced he actually did any work anyway.

  I shut my office door and sat at my desk, enjoying my new digs. My cell phone rang, startling me from my thoughts.

  “Hey executive lady,” Jenny said.

  “Hey. Guess what?”

  “You’re the boss?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Aside from that.”

  “I hate guessing games, just tell me.”

  I told her how Jay had been waiting at my condo. And about the lingerie gift. And most important of all, how Jay had spent the night in my bed. I left out the mirror bit though.

  “Did you guys have breakfast together?”

  “Couldn’t. He was gone when I woke up.”

  “That’s really weird.”

  I hesitated, unsure if I should tell her. “I looked up that lingerie online. It cost nearly three grand.”

  I had to hold the phone away from my ear while Jenny screamed.

  “Are you done yelling?”

  “Yes. But…” I held the phone out again. I knew I shouldn’t have told her.

  “Sorry, I have to go, talk to you later.”

  “Whatever, I am so calling Sam right now.”

  “Uh huh.” I hung up.

  I tried to concentrate on work. For almost two hours, I jotted down every idea I’d ever had, what I considered was missing from the current reporting process, and outlined how I envisioned the reports should look. It would be difficult to transition over, but I’m certain management could make better business decisions with my ideas.

  I pinged Richard an email, requesting some time to sit down with him to discuss everything. With any luck I’d get the green light to hire another analyst to replace me as well.

  I was about to grab Sam and go for lunch when my phone beeped.

  Am going to have to lie low for a bit. Hope you’re enjoying being the boss. J

  I didn’t understand what he meant. Lie low?

  What do you mean?

  I mean we can’t meet up for awhile. Sorry. J

  ???

  I kept the phone in my hand, but no response came. Was he a criminal? That might explain the combination of unemployment and money to blow. But. I don’t know. I feel like whenever I’m with him I can see right into his soul. And I don’t see anything criminal in it. A bit naughty maybe, but not sinister.

  I needed to get this thought straight in my head before I saw Jenny. She’s already freaked enough about him, what’s she going to say about this latest development?

  Sam appeared at my door. “Ready for lunch?”

  “Yes, I was just coming to get you.”

  As we walked to the lunchroom, I churned Jay’s messages in my head. Nothing made any sense. Something didn’t add up. I debated whether to share the issue with Sam, but work didn’t seem like a private enough place for such a crazy, bizarre, possibly overblown scenario.

  There had still been no response from Jay, and an uneasy weight had settled in my belly. It hampered my ability to concentrate on my work.

  “You go ahead and get us a table, I’ll be there in a sec,” I said to Sam.

  I pulled out my phone. My finger hovered over the call button before I mustered the courage to press it. As it connected, I wondered why I was so nervous to phone my own boyfriend.

  It rang three or four times then went to voicemail. I waited a few minutes and tried again, but the same thing happened. He can’t be on the phone, or it would have gone straight to voicemail. Was he hitting the reject call button on me? Or was he rejecting me?

  What’s going on?

  I couldn’t let it drop. It was too odd. The low battery warning on my phone came on. In the excitement of last night’s celebrations I had forgotten to charge my phone. I picked up my desk phone and punched in Jay’s number.

  “Yes?”

  “Jay,” I said, my voice full of relief.

  “Abbie? I can’t talk now. Something’s happening and I need you not to phone or text this number. Not from your cell phone, not from your work extension.”

  “What is going on Jay?”

  “I’ll explain, please, trust me.”

  “I’m all ears.”

  His voice softened. “I know this must seem so strange. Something is happening right now and I need to cut off all contact with you until I sort it out. This has nothing to do with my feelings for you. I want nothing more than to be in your bed again tonight.”

  “I don’t understand,” I said, twisting the phone cord in my fingers.

  “I have to go, wait for me to contact you.”

  The phone went dead, and I stared at the receiver in my hand. Numb.

  28

  I hadn’t heard from Jay all week. Nothing since the phone call when he told me not to contact him. I’d barely slept all week, trying to sort out the situation in my head, I could hardly tell Jenny and Sam the entire story. It was too predictable a conversation, and I didn’t need their stresses on top of my own.

  Instead of our usual Friday after work drink, Sam and I met Jenny and a few other friends at a different bar. A swankier, more upscale affair with a sleek high gloss bar serving overpriced cocktails. But a girl doesn’t turn thirty everyday, and we wanted to start the weekend of festivities off right.

  “How are you going to get through the entire weekend without seeing Jay?” Sam asked.

  “Dunno.” I should have said it’s a good thing it’s your party weekend, or I’d be stewing myself into a tizzy over Jay’s radio silence.

  “I can’t get over the lingerie,” Jenny said.

  “What lingerie? I never heard anything about any lingerie,” Sam said.

  “She didn’t tell you?” Jenny looked to me and back to Sam. “He waited for her at her condo, then handed her a package with a sexy outfit in it and told her to put it on.”

  “What?” Sam’s eyes were wide and her mouth hung open.

  “And get this, it cost three grand!”

  I looked away, searching all the faces in the room looking for some salvation. They were saying stuff at me, but I pretende
d I couldn’t hear them over the music.

  “Abbie!” they shouted in unison.

  “Shut up and drink, old lady.” Smiling, I raised my glass to them and took a gulp of my gin and tonic.

  We giggled and carried on drinking until it was time to go for dinner. Four of us, Jenny, Sam, Marla and I went for a meal.

  The restaurant, like the bar, was more upscale than anywhere we’d normally go. The three of us had decided to treat Jenny. She was the first of our friend group to turn thirty, and we were trying to ease the transition for her.

  We were all feeling pretty good after the earlier drinks and ordered an overpriced bottle of sparkling wine.

  “Cheers,” Marla said holding her glass aloft.

  “Thanks for this incredible meal girls,” Jenny said.

  I’d been lucky. They had stopped quizzing me about Jay since leaving the bar. The waiter brought us our desserts, crème brûlée is heaven all around.

  “So Abbie,” Jenny said as she dropped her spoon. I braced myself and took another drink of wine.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m worried about you.”

  “No, we’re worried about you,” Sam said.

  “Why on earth would you be worried?” I asked.

  “Because,” she halted, looking for the words she was either too drunk or not drunk enough to find.

  “You guys are getting so serious so fast, but you don’t seem to know anything about him,” Sam said, taking over from Jenny.

  “That’s not true,” I said.

  “It is. What do you even know about him?” Jenny asked.

  “Lots. I know lots about him, about his character and his lovingness.”

  “Okay, I’ll be the recruitment specialist interviewer here, what’s Jay’s home like?” Marla said.

  “I haven’t been to his home yet.”

  “No? Why not?”

  “I don’t know, I live so centrally, it’s convenient.”

  “So he doesn’t live centrally?” Sam asked.

  I remained quiet.

  “Where does he live?” Marla asked.

  “Oh my god, you don’t even know where he lives!” Jenny said.

  “You know? It doesn’t even matter,” I said, dropping my fork on the table.

  “Maybe he lives in his car,” Sam said.

  “What else don’t you know about him?” Marla asked.

  “That’s a silly question, how does she know what she doesn’t know?” Sam said, giggling.

  “What’s he look like?” Marla asked.

  “Sam’s seen him,” I said.

  “He looks respectable, plus he’s gorgeous,” Sam said.

  “He’s more than gorgeous,” I said, picturing his face at the front of my mind.

  “Okay, yes, more than cute,” Sam said.

  “Let’s see a photo,” Marla said.

  “I don’t really have one.” I struggled to get the words out of my mouth.

  “Abbie,” Jenny said with concern.

  “Wait, I do have one.” I wrestled my phone from my purse and flicked onto the photos. I held my phone out over the table for the three to look at. In unison, they each grabbed for the phone to get a closer look.

  “His eyes are closed,” Marla said.

  “Is he asleep?” Sam asked, her brow furrowed.

  “Yeah, it’s a pic of his first sleepover at mine.”

  Jenny wrenched the phone from my hand, “Let me see.” Her fingers spread across the screen, zooming in on his sleeping face.

  “He’s got brown eyes,” I said.

  “Man, you definitely have a type, this guy is just a hotter version of Matt,” Jenny said.

  “He is?” I said surprised.

  “Look at his jaw line and nose. Except somehow it works so much better on him. Damn, look at the muscles in his shoulders,” Jenny said.

  “He’s even better standing up with his eyes open,” Sam said.

  “Hubba-hubba,” Marla said, and we all laughed.

  We left the restaurant and headed back to our usual Friday night bar since they turn into a dance club at ten and played the best music around. We knew it would be a late one due to the importance of the occasion. Jenny had arranged ahead of time to stay at my central condo. We’d all chipped in and given her a massage pamper package and she had an early appointment in the morning.

  Jenny and I said good night to Sam and Marla and got back to my condo just before two. It took me a few times to get the key in the lock thanks to all the booze. When I finally managed to click open the door, we skidded through the entrance and collapsed on the bed.

  Jenny was still asleep, mouth hanging open and drooling, when I woke up. With a pounding head, I staggered to the kitchen for some coffee. While I waited for it to brew I noticed a silver envelope on the floor in the entrance way. The building doesn’t allow junk mail to be put directly through doors but sometimes the odd person will sneak through and spam the residents with flyers.

  I picked the envelope up and noticed my name printed across the front. It immediately put me on alert. For what, I don’t know, but this wasn’t normal. I sliced it open with my thumb nail and pulled out the paper inside. Only it wasn’t paper, it was a rectangle of heavy card that resembled a wedding invitation.

  I scanned the handwritten message then read it again.

  Abbie, meet me at O’Sullivan’s bar on Cedar street Sunday at three pm and I will explain everything. Don’t tell anyone. J

  I staggered backward, my heart thumping. My hands gripped the corners so hard the corners creased.

  “Good morning,” Jenny said, sounding far too cheerful for someone that had drunk so much the night before. I slid the note under the microwave.

  “Hey, happy birthday sweetie.” I hugged her tight, congratulating her but also needing her support.

  “I am so looking forward to my massage.”

  “I wish I was having one.”

  “But I’ll see you afterwards, for lunch and the hydrotherapy pool.”

  “Yeah, when you’re all relaxed we’ll all be tense.”

  “You should come, now you’re the big boss.” Jenny poured herself a cup of coffee and downed it in one go and poured a second.

  “I am not the big boss, just Sam’s boss. And I haven’t had a paycheck yet, I’m broke.”

  “Another time.”

  We sat at the table, drinking our coffees. I used all my energy to focus on our conversation. Jenny would be able to sense if something was wrong, and no way did I want her knowing about the note. Or all the stuff that lead up to the note.

  “You’d better get ready, you don’t want to be late,” I said, clearing our mugs away. I tried to seem natural, like I wasn’t trying to get rid of her.

  After she’d left, I pulled the note back out and read it again. Tomorrow at three. How would I ever wait so long to see him? And why did he say not to tell anyone? What possible motivation could anyone have for saying such a thing?

  I stewed all day and all night. Debating whether to go and whether to tell anyone. He said not to, which automatically made me want to. But whoever I told would try to talk me out of it. Or worse, go with me. Or try to physically stop me.

  My heart was desperate to see Jay. I missed him, missed the feel of his arms around me. I don’t know how I got to this point. I went looking for a one-night stand for some sexual release and ended up smitten.

  Smitten but not totally stupid. I needed answers, and he was going to tell me them.

  29

  I’d never actually set foot on Blostern street before. In fact, I don’t think I’ve even driven down it. It’s not exactly the desirable part of town. I kind of wish I’d splurged on a cab. Instead I strained my neck from my seat on the bus, scanning the stores and panicking I’d miss the bar and would end up having to walk any distance in this neighborhood.

  A grimy beige sign came into view, “O’Sullivan’s.” It looked like it dated back to the fifties. It’s amazing the place had stayed in busine
ss all these years.

  My hands connected with the wooden door, it was just as grimy looking as the sign and sticky under my touch. Inside was dim. Dark even. I’d left all the afternoon daylight outside. I squinted, my eyesight struggling to adjust.

  Already on edge, I flinched when my arm was grabbed, my heart leaping into my throat.

  “Abbie, I’m glad you came,” Jay said.

  “Jeez, you scared me.”

  “I’m sitting over here.” He guided me around a corner towards a booth, with two Buds sitting on the table.

  I sat, trying to touch as few surfaces as possible. I looked at him, puzzled as he slid into the booth beside me and I shuffled along to make more room for him. Already the heat of his body was spilling into mine, and I was desperate to feel his arms around me.

  Jay was wearing a t-shirt that exposed his biceps, and I clutched onto his arm, trying to calm myself. He seemed at ease, maybe this was his neighborhood. I waited for him to start explaining, but instead he reached for his beer.

  “What gives?” I asked.

  Jay sucked on the lip of his bottle before sighing. He turned to me and said, “I don’t know how to explain. In a way that won’t upset you.”

  “Too late, I’m already upset.”

  He didn't say anything. Instead, he put his arm around me, and I snuggled close against his torso. He took another sip of beer. A long sip, and I could hear his heart beat from my nuzzled position.

  “It’s okay, just tell me. I won’t freak, I promise.” I gave him a squeeze, to try to reinforce my words, though I didn’t know how I wasn’t going to freak. The whole situation was freaky. Unless he was building it up. Over-blowing it, whatever it was. It’s possible not knowing what it was caused greater anxiety than if he’d just tell me. I decided not to say anything else, to wait until he spoke. I waited some time.