by Iles, Jo
‘Then let’s do it. Let’s go. Or let’s try to, anyway,’ Jack said simply, shrugging his shoulders. It dawned on Jessie that the two biggest regrets in her life—turning down the Hong Kong job offer and not keeping a hold of Jack the first time she’d had the chance—could be rectified in one fell swoop.
‘Would you like some dessert, madam?’ the waiter asked, a note of impatience in his voice.
‘Sorry!’ Jessie exclaimed loudly, realising she must have been off for some time in her own world of thoughts and pleasant imaginings. Someone had placed a dessert menu in her hands at some point, and she was absent-mindedly fiddling with it.
‘Two pieces of chocolate cake, please,’ Jack ordered for them, pulling the now slightly dog-eared dessert menu out of Jessie’s hands and handing it back to the none-too-impressed waiter.
‘Sorry,’ Jessie apologised to Jack earnestly. ‘I was in a different world. I didn’t mean to ignore you.’
‘I know,’ Jack said, giving her a warm smile. ‘So, what’s the verdict, Miss Slaymaker? I could practically hear those cogs of yours turning and clanking away. To Hong Kong or not to Hong Kong? That is the question,’ he asked theatrically.
‘Very funny,’ Jessie laughed. ‘How long have you been thinking that one up?’
‘I know not of what you speak, for I always talk this way, my love,’ Jack quipped, placing a hand to his heart.
‘Anyway,’ Jessie began, assuming an assertive businesslike tone. ‘Do you think it’s really a good idea going back to Hong Kong? After what’s happened with Sonia…’ She stopped, not entirely sure how to proceed.
Sonia was the woman who’d entrapped Jack into staying with her for six months. Jack and Sonia had been childhood friends, but Sonia wanted more—and had schemed and strived to get Jessie out of the picture and win Jack for herself. It had taken Jack a long time to see that she had manipulated him into staying with her.
‘It’s a big city, Jessie. I’m sure our paths won’t cross, and knowing Sonia, I would think she’ll go back to Shanghai anyway. That’s where the majority of her businesses operate from.’
‘You’re kidding, right?’ Jessie asked rhetorically. ‘Sonia wants you, plain and simple. If she hears you’re back in Hong Kong, then I guarantee you, she’ll be back in Hong Kong.’
‘Then we won’t let her spoil our fun. This is about you and me, Jessie. Not her. If we do have the misfortune of running into her, then we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Together,’ he added seriously, giving Jessie a meaningful look across the table. ‘You can’t let the possibility of running into one woman keep you from having a go at something you want.’
‘Ah, I’m just so tempted,’ Jessie admitted.
‘Come on then, Slaymaker. What say you?’ Jack asked persuasively.
‘What’s the time in Hong Kong?’ Jessie asked. She couldn’t help a megawatt beam of a smile from escaping her lips. This man made her feel so good. So positive about life and the future.
‘Seven hours ahead,’ Jack replied. ‘Why?’
‘I need to make a phone call and see if I can get me a job,’ Jessie said, smiling even more widely at this man who seemed to bring out her usually well-hidden impulsive side. He returned her smile, and Jessie felt her heartbeat quicken. Jessie, the safe and secure non-risk-taker, was becoming Jessie Slaymaker: brave risk-taker extraordinaire. Or at least, she was about to.
Chapter 4
Jessie had made her decision. She had called Mr Chan at the bank in Hong Kong, and he had been delighted to hear that she had changed her mind and now wanted to relocate to the region. As a result, Jessie had her job lined up, her flight booked, and her family and friends informed. Her mother took the news well, even if she was rather surprised that Jessie was leaving in a matter of weeks to go and start afresh in some far flung ex-colony with, as her mother phrased it, “her new chap”.
There was only one person left to tell. Tom.
Apart from that one loose end, it was an incredibly exciting time for Jessie, as she planned and looked forward to this new chapter in her life. That excitement was heightened by the presence of Jack. The more time they spent together, the more she came to realise how he was precisely the right man for her. Jack was warm and caring and so easy to be around. Not only were they compatible in the all-important bedroom department, but it seemed they could really talk candidly about anything. For the first time in her life, Jessie felt unafraid to share her hopes and dreams, as well as her fears for the future. And, to their mutual delight, they found they had much in common, from books on economic history to Christopher Nolan movies. And what they didn’t have in common or agree upon turned easily into witty banter and insightful discussions.
But Tom not knowing any of the latest key developments in her life niggled her. Since they’d officially split up, there had been no contact between them. No calls, no emails, no texts—and this was a completely alien experience. Even prior to their attempted romantic liaison, they had always been in regular contact. Jessie found that she didn’t miss Tom the boyfriend. But she did miss Tom the best friend. Very much.
But she knew that the longer she put off telling him, the worse it would be. So with three weeks to go before her departure date, Jessie finally summoned up the courage to call him. It wasn’t the kind of thing she felt she should or could say by email. As she heard the ringing tone down the phone, she felt her stomach churn with nerves.
‘Jessie?’ he answered, more like a question.
‘Hi Tom, how are you?’ Jessie asked automatically. There was a noticeable pause before his reply.
‘Good. You?’
‘Same. Listen, I’m sorry to bother you, but I have some news, and I wanted you to hear it from me directly.’
‘Go on,’ he said warily, trepidation in his voice.
‘Well, do you remember I had that job offer at the bank in Hong Kong?’
‘Yes.’
‘Well, I’m going to take it. And move to Hong Kong. With Jack,’ Jessie finished, holding her breath.
‘Is that what you really want?’ Tom asked evenly. He didn’t sound surprised. Just resigned.
‘Yes. Yes it is.’
‘Then good luck to you. I thought you were going to tell me you were pregnant,’ he said, a lighter note in his voice.
‘No. Hardly,’ Jessie replied, laughing gently.
‘So things are going well with Jack?’ he asked tentatively.
‘Yes. Thank you.’
‘Honeymoon period not over yet, then?’ he quipped.
‘What?’ Jessie asked, momentarily stung. It hadn’t even occurred to her that the way she was currently feeling about Jack, and he about her, could be temporary or ever possibly change. She was naïve and relatively inexperienced when it came to relationships—she knew she was—but what if Tom was right?
‘Forget I said that,’ Tom said quickly. ‘I’m just bitter and twisted that I don’t get to see you everyday.’
‘I don’t regret giving things a try with you, Tom,’ Jessie said with feeling. She was on the verge of crying.
‘You don’t?’
‘Not at all. We were right to try. We were just wrong to keep trying for so long. You must come and visit me when I’m settled. If you want to, I mean. There’s no pressure or anything. There’ll always be an open invitation for you.’
‘I’m sure Jack would love that,’ Tom said, half-laughing.
‘It’s not up to him. You’re my friend, and I’ll always be your friend.’
‘When you put it like that, I suppose I’ll have to come and see you,’ Tom replied. ‘Just promise me one thing.’
‘What?’
‘Promise me you’re not running away because of what happened here with me.’
‘I promise. This decision is actually about me. I think it was you who told me to be selfish once upon a time, to do what I wanted to do. Well, what I want is an adventure. I want to go and live and work in Hong Kong,’ Jessie said with passion. ‘Jack just
happens to be tagging along. Hopefully he won’t cramp my style,’ she added, trying to de-emphasise Jack’s involvement in her life and decision-making. For some reason she felt she had to downplay her true feelings about Jack. Tom didn’t need to know just yet that she had a one-way ticket to being head-over-heels-potty-in-love with his rival.
‘Good,’ Tom replied. ‘Jess, I’m just about to go into a meeting. But let me know how you get on.’
‘Okay. Will do. Miss you lots.’
‘You too,’ Tom replied, then quickly finished the call.
Jessie felt relieved to have finally spoken to Tom and divested herself of the Hong Kong bombshell. Even so, it was still hard to accept that there was still so much pain and awkwardness between them. It was difficult—and it probably would continue to be difficult for a long time. They’d been good friends for a hell of a lot longer than they had been together, but those short months had certainly done their share of damage. She could only hope that maybe, one day, their years of friendship would shine through the debris of their failed attempt at love.
Chapter 5
In the six weeks after making her decision to move to Asia, Jessie had packed up the contents of her home, experienced a whirlwind of teary farewell parties, and of course had numerous hot dates with Jack, with even hotter bedroom antics. But it wasn’t until now—as she stared out the Heathrow departure lounge window at the massive jumbo jet that would transport her to the beginning of a new life—that reality finally seemed to be setting in. She was really doing it. She was actually moving to Hong Kong. For good. And all she was taking with her was the contents of two suitcases and the knowledge that Jack would be there to help and guide her in this exciting new phase of her life.
One slight hitch had presented itself a few days earlier, when Mr Chan, her bank’s Human Resources Director, had called her to say that the role he had originally envisioned for her—Head of Research—was no longer available. However, he had found her a role within the same research team, and although it wasn’t the massive promotion she’d been offered a little over six months earlier, it was still a promotion, and an opportunity to develop and further her career in the heart of the country that currently held the world’s financial interest: China.
Despite her brave, gung-ho facade, Jessie felt nervous, anxious. She had become a borderline insomniac in the days leading up to the big off. But even through all the apprehension, she was excited. Super-excited, in fact. A part of her found it absolutely thrilling that she was doing some kind of magical disappearing act, embarking on her adventure halfway around the world, whilst her friends all plodded on with their stable, slow-changing lives and their humdrum worries of mortgages, children’s educations, and the remembering of wedding anniversaries. In the past, Jessie had always felt envious of her friends’ seemingly perfect lives, but when she saw their faces at her numerous farewell shindigs, she knew that the tables had turned. They were the envious ones now.
True, some people—namely her mother—thought she was being highly irresponsible and reckless to turn her life upside down so dramatically when all she really needed was a new haircut to make her feel like a new woman. And a few others expressed their well-intentioned concern that she was possibly rushing things with this Jack Davenport character, so soon after the fiasco with Tom.
But despite the warnings from her family and friends, she realised now that she had never felt so utterly convinced of anything in her entire life. Sure, she had her butterflies about the whole escapade, but who wouldn’t? Yet at the same time, she had no real ties to keep her in England, not even a cat who could lay claim to her. It was just her. She was as mobile as she was ever going to be, and could move anywhere she damn well pleased.
And then there was Jack. Anywhere in the world Jessie might have wanted to go, she knew that Jack would have found a way to be there too. The fact that she wanted to go to Hong Kong, where Jack already knew the territory well, was just an added bonus.
Jessie and Jack had been through more than their share of silly mishaps and stupider misunderstandings, but since they’d finally gotten together for real, Jessie knew she was falling in love with him. She positively beamed when he was around and still radiated a glow on the rare occasions when he wasn’t by her side. Having reconnected after half a year of pining for each other whilst they were both in relationships with other people, they’d effectively fast-forwarded their own romance from a fledging encounter to a whole new life together. They had well and truly flown the nest. Or at least, they were about to.
Everything was going perfectly. Better than perfect. Until the first tiny fracture started to appear at they waited for the announcements to signal the start of boarding.
Jessie had insisted that the bank only pay for an economy fare for her. She’d seen the enormous cost increase in moving up a class, and she’d thought it was absolutely preposterous to spend that much money when the bank didn’t have to. She had two weeks of holiday when she arrived in Hong Kong to recover from the flight anyway, so she simply didn’t see the need to make her employer pay such an exorbitant amount of money.
‘I don’t see why we have to fly economy,’ Jack huffed as he fidgeted in his seat.
‘We are still in a recession, you know,’ Jessie replied soothingly.
‘The world is. But I’m not. I don’t know why you won’t just let me pay for an upgrade so we can get some proper rest.’
‘Oh, come on. It’ll do you good to mix it up with us plebs,’ Jessie laughed, leaning into his neck. Of course, she would love to be flying in business, but economy was plenty good enough for them both.
‘Would Mr Jack Davenport please make his way to the gate desk,’ a clipped voice announced over the tannoy.
‘That’ll be my upgrade,’ he said sarcastically as he got up and began weaving his way through the crowded rows of seats. There were lots of infants and children. Jessie eyed them warily, hoping they wouldn’t be sitting within too close a proximity to her. The vain monster within her wanted to sleep as much as possible on the flight and arrive looking fresh-faced and ready for her new life to begin.
‘Would a Miss Jessica Slaymaker please also come to the desk?’ the same tannoy voice announced.
‘That little bugger,’ Jessie muttered under her breath as she collected their array of hand luggage and fought her way through the sea of people. She had a feeling Jack had been up to silly business and gone and upgraded them despite her protests.
No such luck. That would have almost been better than what had actually happened.
‘Hi,’ Jack said when she reached the desk, hot and flustered from her traverse.
‘What’s up?’ Jessie asked, attempting cool and calm in front of the ever-so-beautiful ground staff lady. From the way she was smiling, it looked like Jack had been working his charm offensive on her.
‘Well. You’re not going to believe this, but economy is fully booked, so the airline has given me an upgrade to business. On account of my frequent flyer miles.’
‘Oh, right…’ Jessie began. Her face was halfway frozen between a smile and a look of puzzlement.
‘Let me buy you an upgrade so we can be together,’ Jack said, giving her his most sincere look. ‘It’ll be a nice treat for us. Start as we mean to go on, eh?’
‘No, thank you,’ Jessie replied, her voice steady. ‘Economy is fine for me. It’s too much.’
‘Why not?’ Jack asked, a hurt look clouding his handsome features.
‘Thank you for the offer. It’s very kind of you,’ Jessie said, trying to sound grateful. ‘But I’d rather not. I don’t need a business seat to validate the start of my new life, and I certainly don’t plan to be living this extravagantly once we get to Hong Kong. Do you know how much those seats cost?’
‘Right,’ was all Jack could manage. He was clearly miffed. The voice of the tannoy had been watching their exchange and she gave Jessie a look that could only be interpreted as get your blinking brains tested, love. But Jessie wasn�
��t going to budge. It was the principle of the matter—and Jessie was very fond of her principles. Business class was just too expensive. ‘I’ll just stay in economy, then,’ Jack sighed a little sadly.
‘I’m sorry, sir,’ the tannoy woman said smoothly, ‘but that won’t be possible either. As I’ve already told you, economy class is fully booked today. You can either take the business-class upgrade or we can’t let you on this flight.’
‘What? That’s crazy. Well, can I give my upgrade to her?’ Jack asked, a sudden brainwave hitting him as he inclined his head to signify that by her he meant Jessie.
‘I’m sorry, that’s not possible, either,’ the tannoy woman explained. She was starting to sound impatient and snooty. ‘She doesn’t have the necessary loyalty points to qualify, and we can’t just swap these privileges around.’
‘But we won’t be able to sit together?’ Jack half-asked, half-said as a statement.
‘No, sir. Not unless she buys an upgrade for herself.’
‘Jack, take the upgrade,’ Jessie interjected. She was tired of being spoken about as though she hadn’t been standing right there.
‘Are you sure?’ Jack asked, turning towards her.
‘You have to! It’s either that, or you don’t come.’
‘Are you sure I can’t buy you an upgrade?’ Jack offered one last time.
‘No, thank you. I’ll be fine in steerage. You go and enjoy yourself up front,’ Jessie joked.
‘Okay, but don’t say I didn’t offer,’ he said, giving her a quick peck on the cheek and then handing over his boarding pass to the tannoy woman.
As they made their way onto the plane, Jack bid her a quick farewell and turned left at the first junction, leaving Jessie to make the lonely trudge further back to economy. He made a half-hearted promise to come and see her during the flight, but Jessie had a feeling he’d be having far too much fun sipping champagne from real glassware and making the most of his 180-degree flat bed to remember to come and see her in the back.