by S. J. Maylee
“I don’t want to question your judgment, but are you sure they should be working together? We've all seen how they grate on each other’s nerves,” Simon asked as he reached out to Janna's chair, but stopped himself before touching her.
Janna turned back to him. “I saw that, too, yesterday at your office.” They both turned to Keller.
“I'm confident they can take care of things.”
“What now?”
“I'm sorry, Janna, but your project will need to be put on hold. It's at the earliest stages and poses the least risk and cost.” Keller reached out and steadied her hand. “Unfortunately, I don't have another project for you, but we can keep you busy until things get ironed out.”
“Thank you, Sir. I appreciate it.”
“I've already spoken to Anne. Stop by her desk on your way back to your office.”
“Okay. Will do.” Janna got up, and Simon moved to follow her.
“Simon, would you stick around for a minute?”
He watched her walk away with her head high.
“She's a lot stronger than anyone has ever given her credit for.” There were so many things he needed to say to her. For now, he enjoyed the sway of her hips and the flow of her long golden hair.
“You have gotten to know her this week. I'm glad.”
Simon turned around and shook his head as he sat back down. “How did you know I'd take to her like this?”
“I don't have a sixth sense if that's what you're getting at. I simply watch and listen.” Keller flipped his phone around in his hand. “Has she talked much about her family with you yet?”
“A very little. Her father seems to be a selfish bastard. I’m glad she’s moved away from him.”
“I've heard twice from him this week.”
“What?” Simon leaned forward, and a sour taste filled his mouth, making him wish he could spit. He clamped his hands into fists.
“The first call was on Tuesday. He demanded I fire his daughter and put her on the first flight back to Detroit.”
“What a jerk. The man obviously has no history of listening to his daughter.” Simon got up and paced the room.
“I'm inclined to agree with you. Unfortunately, he didn't leave it there. Our loss of funding came with a message.” Keller looked at his phone. “It will all be returned once your new employee returns home.”
“That bastard.”
“Anne's just informed me her father is here now and waiting for Janna in her office.”
Simon stopped his forward movement and thought back to his odd conversation at the coffee shop. “Damn it.”
“Simon.”
He stopped, but squeezed the handle of the door.
“Barreling into her office and fighting her battles won't help.”
“Shit.” Simon threw his hands in the air. “What am I supposed to do? She doesn't know how I feel, and now she doesn't have a project keeping her here.”
“You do need to tell her how you feel. First, I think you should think about why you haven't already told her. More importantly, she needs to deal with her father on her own. If you step in, you might be playing into his hands. I believe it's important to Janna to make her own decisions.”
“You're right.” Simon blew out a ragged breath.
“You remind her to make her own choices, and I'll remind her that this is my town and not her father's.”
“Okay. I should have known you'd have a plan. Thanks, Keller.” Simon shoved his hands in his pockets. “Do you really think Gina and Marcus can get the funding back?”
“Gina and Marcus are capable of many things.”
“That was a cryptic Keller statement.” He shook his head at his friend. “We need to get the funding back. Janna deserves to see this project through.”
“I know. Try not to worry.”
Simon took the long way back to his office and wandered into the break room across from Janna's office. He turned around just enough to notice her door was closed. The office was nice and quiet, and he couldn't hear a thing.
His fingers tapped on the countertop. As if he willed it, the blinds on Janna’s window opened. The man from the coffee shop stepped in front of her window. He stopped when he spotted Simon. A slick smile blazed across his face and left Simon thinking about Keller's advice. His fist smacked into the counter.
****
“You shouldn’t have come.” Janna didn’t bother to get up. Dealing with her father was the last thing she wanted today. “I’m fine here. You didn’t need to check on me.”
“That’s a terrible way to greet your own father.” He took a seat in her guest chair.
“Hi, Dad.” She took a deep breath. “Why are you here?”
“I came to bring you home.” He flicked a piece of lint from his pants.
“What makes you think I’m leaving?”
“Your project is over.”
“Please tell me you had nothing to do with that?” She crossed her arms over her stomach.
“You’ve pushed this little stunt far enough. Leaving Mike was one thing, but to take off and leave your family is a step too far.”
“Dad, he was cheating on me. You can’t expect for me to stay in a sham of a marriage like that. You can’t expect—”
“I didn’t raise you to talk back to me like this.” He stood. “Fine, if you’re not ready to go home yet. I’ll leave.” He walked to the door. “Know that I’m prepared to call in more favors and call your mother. She’s worried about you.”
Her father left, and his words echoed in her thoughts. More favors. Janna slumped back in her chair. He’d done it. He made a phone call, and now her project was gone.
She reached across her desk and picked up the picture of her and her mom. The photo was taken a few summers ago, back when Janna was following her father's lead. Her thumbs caressed the ridges of the frame, and she sat back in her chair.
Simon stepped just inside her office and stopped, like he was just another co-worker coming to chat about his day. The distance was probably best. She didn't want to bring him down with her.
“This is my mom.” She held out the photo for a second to show him the older version of herself, but with dark hair. “Do you think she's proud of me?”
“I'd bet on it.” He took several steps closer, but stopped at her guest chairs.
A coldness seeped into her. The only problem with believing him was it opened up the grand possibility her mother wasn't proud of herself. Janna had been following in her mother's footsteps until this move to Chicago.
“She'd like to meet you.” She set the frame back on her desk.
“You told her about me?” He didn't come any closer, but Janna craved his touch, his reassurance she was doing the right thing. His touch could remind her of all the reasons she shouldn't go home again.
“She wanted to know why I sounded different. I told her I'd met someone that makes me happy.” Janna stood and walked around her desk. “This week has been challenging, but it’s also been the best of my life.” She cocked her head at him when he didn’t come closer.
“I don't want to influence whatever is going on in that head of yours.”
“Why not? I’d hoped you’d have an opinion.”
“I can't make any guarantees about us.” He let the unsaid words linger between them. “I can't guarantee Keller will get the funding back.” He removed the gap between them and rubbed her shoulders. “There’s a fine balance between control and domination.” He lifted her chin. “I won’t force you to stay. You need to do what is right for you. This is your opportunity to choose.”
“Okay, but...” Pain stung the backs of her eyes. “Is that all you have to say to me?”
“I have a million different things I want to say to you, but I want the decision to stay to be yours.” He placed his hand over her heart. “I don't want you to make it for any other reason than your own.”
“If I choose to stay, do you want me to come tonight?” She covered his hand with hers and
dug her fingers in, securing him to her.
“I'll be at the club tonight.” His gaze lifted to her eyes. “If you choose to stay, we'll talk there.”
“But I'm not ready for tonight. We haven't talked about what you’d expect of me.”
“If you come, you'll be fine as you are.” He tried to pull away.
She tugged back on his hand and waited until he returned his gaze to hers. “Thank you.”
She let him go and watched him leave, holding onto her own hand and the comfort his touch left behind. She couldn't let him go or his inexplicable ability not to pressure her.
Janna sank into her chair and fought the urge to cry and throw things. All her life she'd been pressured to do one thing or another. She didn't know what to think about Simon's no-pressure approach, except it was full of pressure.
He cared enough to want her to stay for her reasons and not his, but he didn't know the whole story. Would he want the girl who was tearing apart the company he worked for?
She wanted Simon and everything her new life in Chicago offered, but how much of that would be left once her father had his way? He'd pulled one string, and now the funding for her project was gone. She had no idea how many more strings her father had, but she wasn't willing to risk Keller's company.
Her life would go back to an unwelcomed smothering of control. Her father stole her choices and demanded control over her decisions while Simon dominated her body and insisted her choices be her own. Both men showed their love, but only one of them listened to what she wanted. Only one of them knew her.
Unfortunately, her father was stealing her choice to stay. Janna grabbed hold of her neck and let her eyes close. The pull of her hand reminded her of Simon's touch. She got up and walked to the window.
In that moment, she hated her father and even resented her mother. Put family first had been branded on her from a young age, and where had it gotten her? Forced into a life she didn't want. She rocked back and forth a few times and squeezed her eyes shut.
Keller hadn't fired her yet, but he didn't know how far her father would go. Even if Marcus and Gina got this investor back, she was sure her father would find another way. She couldn't put Keller through it. She pressed her forehead against the cool glass and let her eyes close.
“What do you want, Janna?”
She turned and found Keller at her door.
“What do you want?”
“It doesn't matter now. My father's opened a door, and the only way to close it is for me to go home.” Janna ran her fingers through her hair and turned back to the ravine. “I'm sorry I put you through this.”
“Janna.” The cold alarm of his voice turned her around. “The only thing that scares me about your father is the way he treats you.” He walked into her office. “I've built my life around giving people what they need, and it's made me a lot of friends in this city.”
“What are you saying?”
“I'm trying to remind you that the only reason to run home is because that's where you want to be. I’m more than capable of holding my company together.” He grabbed hold of her shoulders. “The choice is yours, Janna. Ask yourself what you're willing to fight for, and then go fight for it.”
She stood motionless for a long moment after Keller left her office. The day she met Simon, she wondered if he'd fight for her. Today, she realized he'd given her what she needed most. He’d given her something worth fighting for.
A giggle bubbled up, and a realization struck home. Her father truly didn't know her. He didn't know what she was capable of. Her father may have pushed all her buttons, but the choice was still hers.
She would stay and fight. She'd fight for her new career, and she'd fight for Simon.
That was her choice.
“How are you doing?”
She looked up to find Anne and Lydia at her door. The worry twins were back. “You two have impeccable timing. I need your help.” In all the things her father had taught her, he’d completely missed explaining water could be as thick as blood.
Chapter Ten
Simon paced his apartment. He’d gone home after his conversation with Janna, knowing he wouldn’t be able to get any work done. The pacing only stopped momentarily while he opened his front door for Jake.
“Thanks for coming over.”
“Of course, but you better thank Lydia. She convinced me to check on you.”
“I miss the days when I was enjoying watching you squirm over her.”
“I bet.” Jake walked into the kitchen and grabbed a couple of beers from the fridge.
“I shouldn’t have left her alone.” Simon glanced at his clock, convinced the minutes were moving slower. “Keller and his crazy advice.”
“Don’t second guess yourself.” Jake handed him a beer. “You told me yourself that Janna needs to work through this on her own.”
“What time is it? I think my clock needs new batteries.” He checked his pockets and pulled out his phone and took a deep breath.
“Why don’t you sit down? We have a few hours yet before we need to be at the club.”
“I should have followed her father and made sure he left town alone.” Simon sat on the couch and took a swig of his beer. “He’s a real piece of work. I’m not sure what I’ll do if she moves home.”
“I don’t think you’re going to have to worry about that.”
“Don’t be so sure.” He rubbed his knee. “I hardly gave her much reason to stay. I didn’t treat her real well at the start of the week and haven’t told her what she means to me. I probably don’t look like much of an alternative.”
“That’s bullshit. There might have been a misunderstanding to begin with, but you two worked past that and found a reason to get to know each other. Your feelings for her are real, and I’d bet hers for you are, too.”
“I have been looking out for her needs.” He checked the clock again. “I can’t stand this waiting.”
“Let’s order some food. We’ll watch the game while we eat.” Jake grabbed the remote. “If there’s still time, we can hit the gym at the club before we go in.”
Hours later, Simon entered the club after a long shower. He’d worked his arms hard on the bag, but the ache wasn’t keeping his mind off of Janna. He lowered his sorry ass onto a bar stool, ordered a bottle of water, and rested his head on his arms. The wait was taking its toll.
*****
Janna had positioned herself in the middle of a group of people who not only understood her, but helped her with what she wanted most. This was what family was all about, and in this moment she intended to question their fashion sense.
“You're sure this is the right thing to wear?” Janna examined the sheer lace dress Lydia and Anne had picked out for her.
“It's perfect.” Lydia shifted the sack-like cover on Janna's shoulders. “It gives you a little modesty, which will drive Simon crazy, and then he’ll remove it. Perfect. I can't wait ‘til he sees you're here.”
“I may need to take some of your courage to get through today.”
“Janna, you have courage in spades.” Lydia knelt down and examined the hem. “I think they use similar sheaths in the downstairs club.”
“Have you been?”
“Not yet, but we’ve talked about it.” Lydia stood. “I think we’re going tomorrow night for couples’ night.”
“I love your necklace.” Janna reached out and lifted the heart shaped lock that held her chocker closed. It weighed more than she imagined.
“Thank you.” Lydia's face lit up. “Jake picked it out. It was a gift at our ceremony just a few weeks ago.”
“It’s lovely. You’re a lucky lady.”
“You are, too. Simon has been a great friend to Jake. I’m so glad he’s found someone.” When Janna looked down, Lydia took hold of her hands. “Simon’s a fighter, and I see the same in you. You’ve had to fight for each step that got you here.”
“You’re right.” Warmth lit her from within, and goose pimples rose over her fl
esh. “I need to make a phone call before I go out there. There’s a door I need to make sure is closed.”
“Now?”
“Yes, now. I’ve waited too long actually.” Janna ran over to the locker she was using for the evening and pulled her phone from her purse. She found her father’s number and took a deep breath before pressing his number. All she had to do was be open and honest.
“Janna, I’m so glad you called. While I was traveling home, I had another great idea. You should fly home tomorrow. I’ll hire movers to pack up your things and bring them home. You won’t have to worry about anything but getting yourself home where you belong.”
“I am where I belong.”
“Now, Janna, I’d thought you’d have come to your senses by now. You’re moving home. Don’t wait until they fire you. You’ve only been there a week. You don’t even need to put the job on your resume.”
“I’m not coming home.”
“Janna Marie Hall, I’ve had enough of this.”
“Dad, I’m not coming home.” She cleared her throat. “You can either accept my choice for my life, or we will be parting ways.” When he didn’t respond she added, “The choice is yours, Dad. Do you want to be a part of my life or not?”
“You’re staying.”
“Yes, I’m staying.”
“I think you’ll regret it.”
“I understand how you feel. Do you understand how I feel?”
“You’re messing up your life.”
“It is my life, thank you.” She took another big breath. “I’m glad we got this cleared up. Tell Mom I’ll call her tomorrow.” She hung up and twirled around.
Lydia stood beaming and speechless.
“I can’t believe I just did that.” Janna fingered the collar of her dress. “I can’t believe I just did that.”
“Are you second guessing your decision?”
“No.” Janna shook her head and felt the pinch in her cheeks as her smile settled in. “Simon is here, right?”
“Anne's out there checking right now. Just take a deep breath because it is almost time.”
A sting of nerves flashed across Janna’s skin.