by Dawn Tamayo
He nodded, maybe Alice was right. “Okay, I get all this. I am going to sort it out, I promise.”
Alice smiled and pushed her blonde bobbed hair back behind her ears. She finally felt a little relief for Victoria, no matter what else happened now at least she knew Victoria would be back on track with her life financially.
“But I still don’t understand why she has left her job. She could have stayed there.”
“No she couldn’t Jake. No matter where she looked she heard your name and had to look at your face or deal with your company. Even if she left the campaign you would still be their biggest client and you would still be all around her. She couldn’t deal with that anymore. You broke her heart Jake and it continued to break just a little bit more with every photograph she saw of you and another woman.” Alice said referring to his antics over the last few weeks.
Jake bowed his head feeling guilt sweep through him, he knew Alice was right. The way he had behaved over the last few weeks was wrong and if Victoria had seen pictures of him with women in bars then he could understand why she thought he was sleeping with them too, he would probably have jumped to the same conclusion. But that wasn’t the truth and he had to get Victoria to see that. He hadn’t done anything wrong by drinking with the women, it had just been a drink in a bar with female friends he already knew, but even that he knew was not right.
Jake nodded his head. “You may not believe me but I promise I am being honest with you. There was nothing with those women, they are all my friends and I was just having a drink with them. Yes we had a good laugh, but the press always play it up, and I am so sorry Victoria saw them and thought otherwise. It is my fault, I know that and I accept I shouldn’t have put myself in that position, but I was trying to fill the void of Victoria leaving. I really missed her. Before Victoria left Miami she told me we were through, I thought she didn’t love me and for a while I wasn’t sure if she really had ever loved me. I know now what an idiot I was. It is no excuse, I know that, but I did not cheat on Victoria and I need to explain this to her, and to tell her that I love her and I want her back.”
Alice smiled. She could see how much Jake loved Victoria, that much was clear, and she knew without a doubt that Victoria loved Jake. So what were they waiting for?
“Where is Victoria now?” Jake asked softly.
“In London at a job interview. She registered with a head-hunters and they arranged an interview for ….” Alice looked at her watch, “about now. Look Jake, Victoria is really upset with you, I don’t think she will just meet you for dinner, it has gone past that point. Mark cheated on her and she didn’t love him half as much as she loves you, and she still thinks you cheated on her!”
Jake thought for a moment. “I have an idea. Do you have the number for the head-hunters?”
Alice nodded and went across to the bureau and took out a business card. Before she handed it to Jake she held onto it a moment longer, “Jake you had better be serious about Victoria, otherwise this is the point where you just walk away and send her a cheque in the post to make up for what she has lost, if that is what you want.”
Jake shook his head, “I am very serious Alice, I have never been more serious in my life – why do you think I am here now? I flew over from Miami specially to see Victoria and I only have until Sunday afternoon because I need to be back in Miami on Monday morning.”
“What, you aren’t in England on business?”
“No. I have only come for Victoria. I told you I am serious and I want her more than anything else.”
Alice sighed heavily but smiled, “Oh for goodness sake Jake you better sort this out now.” He nodded as she handed him the card and pulled out his telephone pressing in the telephone number printed on the smart business card.
Jake heard the voice at the other end of the telephone introduce themselves. ‘Here goes nothing’ he thought. He had nothing to lose, and everything! “Good afternoon, I have a position I would like filled by your company.”
“What position is that sir?” The male voice asked politely.
“The position is for a marketing and advertising account manager for a relatively new company which is a subsidiary with a large organisation.”
“That sounds wonderful. We do have several candidates who would be perfect for this position.”
“Thank you, but there is only one person I want for this position and I believe she is registered with your company.
“Oh I see. Alright, what is the name of this person please?
“Miss Victoria Pembrose.”
“We can arrange an interview for you Mr….?”
Jake thought quickly, he knew the head-hunters shouldn’t divulge his name before the interview but he wanted to be doubly sure Victoria wouldn’t know it was him. He grasped for a name he would remember and decided on his mother’s maiden name. “Mr Alvarez.”
“Certainly Mr Alvarez. If you send across a job specification sheet I will contact Miss Pembrose now and set that up for you. When and where would you prefer the interview to take place?”
“I need it to happen today. Late afternoon or this evening, at the Savoy hotel.”
“It is a bit last minute Mr Alvarez, but I will see what I can do.”
Jake hoped he wasn’t too late, he had to be back in Miami on Monday morning for some important television interviews and wanted Victoria to be on that plane with him.
“And there is one more thing, do not tell Miss Pembrose that I have requested her personally.”
“Excuse me?” The man on the end of the telephone was confused, it was perfectly normal for people to be requested for a particular job, that was quite often the nature of their business after all, head-hunting.
“I don’t want Miss Pembrose to know that I have requested her. Let her believe that there are other candidates being interviewed for this job. We wouldn’t want her to think she could call the shots and up the salary.” Jake made up so as not to seem too strange.
“Ah of course. No problem.”
Victoria sat in the private meetings room in the Savoy hotel looking at the sky getting dark outside and she looked at her watch, it was four thirty. She hadn’t wanted to come here and she had actually asked if the interview could take place somewhere else - the last time she came to The Savoy was nearly two months ago visiting Jake to tell him she was taking him up on his offer to go to Miami. However the agency said they checked with the client and unfortunately this was where the client had insisted, so no there was no other option. So reluctantly Victoria agreed.
Victoria walked around the spacious office and ran her hand across the beautiful cream high backed chair. She didn’t want to sit down just yet, she was still a few minutes early. Just then a door opened and a smartly dressed woman walked in with a piece of paper in her hands, a secretary Victoria assumed.
“Mr Alvarez has telephoned to say he is running a few minutes late, traffic I believe, but he said you were to read this in the meantime.”
Victoria took the paper from her outstretched hand and looked at it - a job specification sheet.
“Also whilst you are waiting please help yourself to anything in this room, it has been laid on especially for your interview.”
“Thank you, that’s very generous.” Victoria said eyeing the box of her favourite Godiva chocolates and the extensive drinks tray.
The woman smiled, “Mr Alvarez’s request.”
Victoria nodded as the secretary left and she stood alone in the room once again. She poured herself a glass of Diet Coke and popped one of the chocolates in her mouth as she looked over the job specification in her hand.
She mumbled to herself as she read, “Creating campaigns for a contemporary market base, fun products, the ability to travel for business, and a flexible personality required.” She nodded liking the sound of all that. Victoria looked over the page again frowning, she still didn’t know the name of the company, but she shrugged - that didn’t really matter considering so far she liked everythi
ng she read. Yes this was going to be the beginning of something good, something she could really get her teeth into and help put the pain she was feeling behind her.
Jake ran through The Savoy hotel’s beautiful lobby and followed the secretary to the meeting room he had booked for the afternoon. He knew he was nearly an hour late but the traffic on the M4 motorway back from Gloucester was terrible, and then driving through London had been near on impossible. He wondered how people did this every day, it wasn’t even rush hour and it was like Miami at its worst! He paused for a moment outside the door and pushed his ruffled hair back into place taking a deep breath. ‘Here goes nothing’ he thought and turned the door handle, walked through the door, and launched into an apology for being late.
“Victoria, I am so sorry I am late but I have just driven all the way back from Gloucester to see you and the traffic was ridiculous.” Jake said as he walked into the room, but stopped abruptly when he found it empty. He looked around wondering if he was in the wrong meeting room, but then he saw the exact refreshments and chocolates lined up on the table just as he had requested, and he knew he was definitely in the right room. Only Victoria wasn’t there!
“Victoria?” Jake called, but no she wasn’t strangely hiding behind one of the large chairs, and Jake walked around the empty room wondering where she was. He was sure the secretary said Victoria was waiting for him in the meeting room. He walked across to the telephone on the desk and pressed the button for the meeting room reception desk.
“Good afternoon Mr Alvarez, how can I help you?” A polite voice came through the line.
“Miss Pembrose, my guest, is not here. Has she left?”
The receptionist looked at her visitor’s log book, “No I don’t believe so. Miss Pembrose has signed it but not signed out yet. She must still be in the hotel somewhere. I will send someone to look for her now.”
Jake considered going to look for Victoria himself, but he decided it would be better if he stayed put in case she came back to the meeting room, and then he would be gone too. This wasn’t quite how he had planned it at all. He grabbed a glass and filled it with ice cold water, he had run out of refreshments somewhere between the end of the M4 and the Strand and he was thirsty. Jake took a moment whilst he was alone in the meeting room to compose himself and sat down behind the large mahogany desk thinking about everything Alice had told him.
Victoria washed her hands and took out her MAC lipstick dabbing on another layer smudging it across her lips with her ring finger. She washed her hands again and dried them on the soft linen cloth then threw it in the wash-bin next to the sink. Pulling down her smart black suit jacket she puckered her lips together and hoped this guy was going to hurry up, she had waited over an hour and had been bursting to go to the toilet. Just then the toilet door opened and the secretary from earlier walked in with obvious relief edged across her face.
“Miss Pembrose I am glad I found you. Mr Alvarez is here, he is waiting for you in the meeting room.”
“Oh crap!” Victoria said as she grabbed her handbag and walked swiftly out of the hotel toilets. She had waited for as long as she could until she thought her bladder was going to burst, and then the only time she stepped out of the meeting room to go to the toilet the guy actually turns up to interview her! “Thanks,” Victoria waved to the secretary, “Don’t worry I know my way back.” she said as she ran along the corridor back to the meeting room.
Victoria didn’t pause, she opened the meeting room door and swiftly walked in.
“I am so sorry to have kept you waiting Mr Alvarez, I just had to pop to the ladies.” She said as she walked into the room and saw the back of the large cream leather chair facing her. She immediately sat down on her own high backed chair in front of the large desk and waited for the man to turn his chair around and give her his attention.
Jake heard Victoria’s voice, he turned around slowly in his chair and looked at Victoria sitting across the desk from him. He didn’t think he had seen anything so beautiful. So beautiful and shocked!
“Jake!” Victoria squealed as she jumped in her chair. What the hell was Jake doing sitting there? In fact what was Jake doing in London, she was sure he was in Miami yesterday, not that she had been looking at photographs of him on the internet or anything!
“It’s okay Victoria, I didn’t mean to give you a shock but I couldn’t think of any other way to get you to meet me. Alice said you probably wouldn’t agree to meet with me, so I thought this would be my only chance.”
“Jake what are you talking about? I am here for a job interview.”
“I know, with me.”
“Alvarez?” Victoria said referring to his pseudonym.
“My Mother’s maiden name.” He smiled gently.
“Great! This might seem like a game to you but it is not to me. You have just wasted my time and got my hopes up on a job which sounded perfect for me.”
“No Victoria. The job is real and it is yours if you want it.”
“No way Jake, I am not working for you again. In fact I don’t want to be anywhere near you. Not now and not ever.” Victoria said recovering from the shock of seeing Jake and stood up. She was out of there, she didn’t want to see Jake and she couldn’t understand why he was even here.
Jake jumped up from his chair and moved around the desk as fast as he could. He took hold of Victoria’s arm and turned her back to face him. He hadn’t come all this way for Victoria not to listen to what he had to say. After that, anything else was down to her. He couldn’t tell her what to do or how to feel, but she had to know the truth and how he felt about her.
“Please Victoria listen to me, I have flown all the way over here just to talk to you. I drove to Gloucester this morning to your friend Alice’s house but you weren’t there, so I drove all the way back from Gloucester to meet you here. The least you can do is hear me out, please.”
Victoria looked at Jake standing so close to her, too close. He smelt delicious and the look of pleading in his eyes put a vice-like grip around her heart.
“What do you mean you have been to Gloucester?”
“Andrea told me you were staying with your friend in Gloucester and gave me the address. I flew in early this morning and I went straight to Gloucester and met Alice. Who, by the way, is one lovely lady, but she gave me a hell of a telling-off!”
Victoria had to smile at the thought - Alice was a wonderful sweet friend but she was sure she had a few choice words to say to Jake and hadn’t held back.
“Come on just give me a few minutes, surely a transatlantic flight and nearly seven hours in a car gives me enough points for that!” Jake half joked, he hadn’t come all this way to have Victoria walk away from him now without even listening to him.
Victoria sat down on her chair and nodded, “Jake, what do you want?” she sighed not sure what good could come of listening to whatever he had to say, but she was tempted to know why he had flown all the way from Miami, and then driven so far just to see her.
“I want you Victoria.” Cutting straight to the point Jake sat down on the chair next to hers and turning it so he was facing her. He reached across the small gap between them to take her hand but she pulled it back.
“No, I have been there and done that and I’m not doing that again. I had one cheating fiancé and I won’t be going down that road again.” She started to stand up but Jake put his hand on hers and the look in his eyes stopped her.
“Wait Victoria! Just listen to me, hear me out and then you will understand that I didn’t cheat on you, and I promise you I never will.”
Victoria sat back down.
“I need to know something first.”
Victoria nodded, she had nothing to lose and at the very least she would have closure on everything.
“The day you left Miami, the morning you waited for me outside my office, you saw some photographs of me with another woman.” Jake paused as Victoria turned her head away and he could see the sparkles of tears in her eyes even th
ough her face remained emotionless. He gently moved her chin back so she was looking at him. “Did you tell me we were finished because of what you saw in the photographs, or was it because you wanted us to be finished?”
“What difference does it make?”
“No difference to the truth of what really happened, or what has happened since. But it matters to me, I want to know.”
Victoria cleared her throat, “I told you before when I first came to Miami that I would not be another one of your long line of women, and I meant it Jake.”
“I know that, and you have never been like that to me, I promise.” He saw a tiny trickle of a tear appear at the edge of Victoria’s eye and she quickly wiped it away, so quickly he would have missed it if he blinked, but he didn’t and he felt like a knife had sliced at a piece of his heart. “Is that why you finished us and left Miami, because of the photographs?” He said gently.
Victoria nodded.
“Oh Vicky I am so sorry but it is not true, I didn’t sleep with Natasha and the photographs made it look like something it was not.”
Victoria laughed coldly, that sounded vaguely familiar even if the scenario was slightly different.
“No hang on there.” Jake sat back in his chair. He might have been a fool to run to a bar and hang out with a load of friends and drink with a bunch of pretty women when he thought he had been wronged by Victoria, the woman he genuinely loved, but that was all it was and he wasn’t about to be called something he was not, a liar. “You needed me to listen to you and trust you when things looked bad, and okay I might not have wanted to do that straight away but I did listen to you with an open mind, and I saw the truth. Now I need you to listen to me and think about it because I have never lied to you, and I never will.”