Pinkie Promise

by Sarah Clay

  He stands and starts pacing the room. “It means I’d be gone for a couple of weeks Liv, it’s not the right time to leave you, shit, and with everything else…”

  I look over to Jackson, hoping I can get him to help me deal with my brother.

  But instead, I notice Jackson frowning. I can’t be sure but I worry that I’ve pissed him off because I’m making his life harder than it needs to be. I look back to my brother and straighten my shoulders.

  “Cooper Matthews, seriously, I’ll pack my bags and go find somewhere else to stay if you try and use me as an excuse not to fulfill your responsibilities.” I stand up from his desk, threatening him with as much muster as I can.

  He stops pacing and glances over at me, the shock evident on his face. I smile over at him, knowing that he doesn’t want me to take off; I’m not giving him much choice and he knows it.

  “She can stay at mine,” Jackson grumbled out.

  I feel my eyes go wide at his offer, just as Coop shuffles back to the chair and joins me in staring at him.

  “Yeah?” Coops hopeful voice makes my eyes grow wider.

  I feel like a bobble head, swinging my head back and forth between them both. My mouth opening and closing, but no sounds emitting from it.

  “Yeah, there’s plenty of room and you’ll be able to concentrate knowing she’s not alone.”

  Jackson glances up from his watch and over to my brother, who’s clearly taken all the time he needs to think it over and agrees that it’s a good idea.

  Coop looks back to me with a big shit eating grin across his face.

  I start shaking my head back and forth, willing my voice to appear.

  “Nu-uh, I’m nineteen not nine. I’ll be fine at your apartment Coop.”

  Coopers grin fades a little. Jackson must notice because he leans forward in his chair, looks directly into my eyes and cuts into our conversation.

  “Olivia, you asked me before if there was anything you could do to help?”

  I glance over to him, frowning; but I nod anyway. Realising too late where he was going with this line of questioning.

  “This. This will help, I need his head in the game.” He gestures towards Coop.

  I did offer to help, but I didn’t think it would involve staying at Jackson’s house.

  Regardless, I sigh, scrunching my eyes closed and dropping back down into the chair.

  “Guess I’ll be staying at Jackson’s house until you return.”

  I peek my eyes open just slightly and catch Jackson’s smirk but I don’t acknowledge it, I’m just glad to see the look of relief on Coop’s face.

  ∞

  Coop took off not even an hour after it had been decided I would stay with Jackson. Stating the quicker he left, the quicker he’d return.

  Jackson had left too; he’d gone back up to his office to finish up some work before he took me to get my things from the apartment.

  When the clock hit eight o’clock, I decided I’d just wait for him down in the lobby.

  I pull out my phone and wait for it to power back on, ignoring the notifications popping up; so I can shoot a message off to Jackson.

  Me: Hey Jackson, I’m down in the lobby. No rush to finish up though, I was thinking I’d catch a cab to the apartment and get my things. I can meet you back here when you’re finished? Liv.

  Slowly making my way downstairs I notice the bitchy receptionist start glaring at me straight away.

  I take a seat on the lounge chairs and glance over my texts, trying to ignore her. When I hear a male voice from across the room I peek up from my phone to see the guy I’d meet a couple of weeks ago, Dean; now standing with the bitchy brunette.

  When he catches sight of me he grins, detaching himself from the receptionist, before sauntering over to me on the sofas.

  My phone chimes in my hand just as Dean arrives beside me. But I don’t check it straight away, because Dean’s voice distracts me again.

  “I’ve been waiting to hear from you, I thought maybe your phone was busted; apparently not” he jokes.

  I offer a quick smile before glancing back at the screen quickly.

  Jackson: I’ll be down in 10 minutes, don’t move.

  Alright, boss. I laugh to myself as I pocket my phone again; turning my attention back to Dean.

  “Sorry about that” I offer as he takes a seat beside me.

  “What are you doing out here princess?”

  I try and control my urge to shudder. Princess was the name dad used on me whenever he wanted to be seen in the public eye as the doting father.

  “Just waiting on Jackson.” I shrug my shoulders.

  Dean looks a little surprised, “Jackson?” he tries confirming, all I offer is a nod.

  “Jackson Turner?” I hear his voice rise in what, hesitation, worry, annoyance maybe?

  “Yes?” I hear Jackson’s deep voice rumble over our heads before he rounds the sofa and appears in front of us.

  Arching my brow at his sudden appearance, “thought you said 10 minutes.”

  He throws me what could only be described as a guilty look before it softens.

  “Finished what I needed to, we going?” he grunts out while looking between me and Dean.

  Dean hasn’t spoken yet, when I look over at him I notice his attention is actually on the receptionist that’s making her way over to us.

  She slides up close to Jackson, pushing her boobs into the side of his bicep.

  “Hey, Jacky, what are we up to tonight?” I laugh a little too loudly, quickly coughing; trying to hide it.

  Jacky, really?

  Apparently, I must have been pretty obvious though, because Jackson is smirking over at me, while brunette Barbie is glaring at me.

  Dean just drops his hand from the sofa and rubs my back. Clearly unaware that I’m not actually choking on anything other than barbie’s stupidity.

  Jackson's eyes cut to where Deans hand is touching me and just as quickly, his smirk turns to a frown. Barbie notices it too because she turns to me with the fakest smile and sticks her hand out to me.

  “I’m sorry, we’ve not been properly introduced, I’ve seen you entering a few times; I’m Victoria, Dean’s sister, and Jacksons…” I stick my hand into hers cutting her off by surprise, she immediately tightens her grip, digging her fake nails in.

  I squirm a little, but she doesn’t let go.

  “Olivia.” I don’t offer any fake greetings, no ‘nice to meet you’ is leaving my lips and entering her ego.

  “Olivia, what a pretty name. You’re here later than you usually are, do you need me to call you a car?”

  She finally drops my hand; I can’t help rubbing where her claws were just digging in.

  “That won’t be necessary, I’ll be giving her a ride.”

  Brunette Barbie, or Victoria as I now know her as swings her head towards Jackson in question.

  “Olivia is Cooper's sister; she will be staying with me while he is away.” Jackson looks like he’s getting frustrated having to explain himself.

  “But Jacky, that could be weeks on that account. What about our plans?” She whines, I roll my eyes and stand up.

  Dean stands along with me, catching Jackson’s attention.

  “Sorry Victoria, we will have to reschedule.”

  He steps to the side and waits for me to join him. Turning to Dean I offer him a little wave before walking over to stand beside Jackson.

  When Dean starts to talk, both Jackson and I turn our heads back.

  “Now that I know your phone is working, I’ll be waiting for your call” he winks.

  Jackson grunts out a goodbye to them both, placing his hand on my lower back while ushering me over to the lift to take us down to the main carpark. The heat radiating from his palm causes me to lean back further into his touch

  ∞

  Jackson was driving us over to Coops apartment in his Range Rover Evoque. A girl could wet her panties at the sight of it. Such a beautiful car inside and out, the
Narvik black paintwork matching the all black leather interior, damn it was immaculate. The big screen taking over the dash let you access just about anything.

  I would never understand why it was even necessary to have such things though.

  Hello, you’re driving, how about you concentrate on that buddy.

  Of course, it had taken me all of two minutes to ask him about Victoria.

  It was obvious there was something going on there by the way she tried to stake a claim right there in the lobby.

  He’d apologized for her behavior but hadn’t filled me in on their relationship status.

  That was over ten minutes ago. I don’t think he’d even noticed we hadn’t uttered another word, seemingly like he was deep in thought; probably worried about their investors.

  He parked in Cooper's reserved space before following me up to the apartment. Jackson stayed downstairs and waited on me while I gathered all my things. Luckily there wasn’t too much of them.

  I’d arrived with no more than one bag of items, but Coop was quick to take me out and get me a bunch of new clothes, toiletries and anything else I’d wanted. So I now had three full overstuffed bags.

  “You ready?” Jackson asks, meeting me at the bottom of the stairs, casually taking my bags from me.

  Looking around the quiet apartment, I was kind of glad I’d be at Jacksons now. I hated being alone, Dad was always working or taking late night meetings. It would be nice to have the company.

  “Sure am, Jacky.” As soon as I catch sight of his glare aimed at me, I lose it. Laughing so hard at the ridiculous nickname.

  “Don’t even start” he rolls his eyes. I can’t help but laugh again at his annoyance. This time he doesn’t comment. But he loses the glare and just smiles over at me; while shaking his head.

  We make our way back to the Range Rover, where he deposits me and my bags before rounding the front of the vehicle and climbing back in.

  His phone buzzes a couple of times before he pulls it from his pocket. Frowning down at his screen.

  “Everything okay?” he locks his phone and throws it in the cup holder.

  “Just Victoria.”

  Oh great, now I feel bad.

  I mean the girl’s a bitch, and I was sure Jackson could do better. But, I didn’t intend on ruining his relationships.

  As much as I was looking forward to the company, I decided I should make his life a little easier.

  Tucking my hair behind my ear while I clear my throat. I peer over at him.

  “Jackson, I don’t want to ruin your plans. I can stay in the apartment. It’s really no problem.”

  He shifts the car into gear, but before he pulls out of the space, he levels me with a stern look.

  “Olivia, you are staying with me. Victoria and I aren’t a couple, we fuck and occasionally have a meal together. You’re not ruining anything.”

  He turns his head forward, before pulling out from underground and merging into the traffic.

  I sit stunned, before chewing on my lower lip, trying to figure out how to get on his ‘women he fucks and eats with’ list.

  Chapter Eight

  Jackson

  “It’s beautiful out here” Olivia mumbles from beside me.

  We were about 5 minutes from my home and we’d barely spoken the whole drive. Not since telling her Victoria was just an occasional fuck.

  You wouldn’t have thought it based on the way Victoria was blowing up my phone right now. I could hear it vibrating away, over in the cup tray. I glance over to Olivia and smile at the look of appreciation on her face.

  Victoria hated that I lived “out in the woods” as she put it. Whenever she came out, she was always trying to get me to move in closer to the city, talking about how we would be able to spend more time together.

  “It is, definitely worth the extra travel time” I murmur.

  Olivia nods in agreeance.

  “Oh absolutely.”

  When I’d received Olivia’s text message earlier, I’d felt guilty for losing track of time. Out of curiosity, I’d brought up the live stream surveillance we have down in the lobby.

  I’d spotted her straight away, but the second I noticed the little prick down there too, I knew it wouldn’t take him long before he tried to reacquaint himself with her.

  I’d shut down my computer and high tailed it down to them.

  I didn’t like the idea of Dean trying to get his mitts on her, hell; I didn’t really like the idea of anyone trying.

  But Dean was the problem in sight at the time.

  Then Victoria had to come over and introduce herself, she damn well knew who Olivia was. I’d told her exactly who she was when she’d enquired about the pretty little blonde who had started showing up. When Dean started rubbing Olivia’s back I knew it was time to go.

  I pull into my driveway and shut the car off before jumping out and grabbing her bags. Walking around to meet her at her door, I’m surprised to see she’d already climbed out and she was closing the door softly while staring up at the house.

  “Wow.”

  I throw a smile over my shoulder as I walk ahead of her, leading her towards the door.

  “Jackson, this place is… wow” I laugh at her inability to form a sentence.

  When I shift the bags to one hand and push the key into the lock, I hear Charlie on the other side.

  “Shit” I hadn’t even thought about how he would behave.

  I look back over to Olivia, wondering how she will react. She was staring up at me with wide, questioning eyes; waiting for me to speak.

  “My dog, Charlie, he can be a little intimidating.”

  She laughs, “I know the type.”

  I open the door attempting to block his path to her. Dropping her bags in the entryway before grabbing hold of his collar and flicking on the lights.

  ‘Hey, Charlie” I greet him while ruffling his fur up around his ears.

  He laps it up before noticing Olivia standing in the doorway. Kneeling down, she holds the back of her hand out for him to sniff. He slowly sniffs her before nudging her hand up to his head. Letting her pat him.

  She laughs at his antics and takes over giving him attention.

  “Well damn, he likes you.”

  Charlie doesn’t seem to like anyone. I let go of his collar now that I know he doesn’t mind our visitor. He pulls away immediately and knocks her over, licking her all over and climbing on to her lap.

  Just as I’m about to rescue her, I hear the softest giggle come from underneath the mass of fur.

  “I like you too Charlie” she speaks through her laughter.

  “Come on you big boofhead, want to go outside?” I start walking over to the back door, flicking lights on as I go.

  When I turn back around he hasn’t moved. Still lapping up all the attention she’s offering him. The damn dog is as big as her, he looks ridiculous trying to sit on her lap.

  “Charlie, come on boy” when he hears the back door unlatch he springs into action, darting outside before I close the door again.

  I laugh under my breath at the whole exchange.

  ∞

  We’d ordered pizzas not long after getting home. While we waited I showed her around the house and deposited her bags in the spare room that she would be staying in. Charlie had been fed and I’d even lit the fire.

  We were just finishing up the last of the pizza when my phone started ringing from the kitchen counter. I excused myself to take the call after she’d assured me she would be fine.

  The fact that Charlie was laying down at her feet, stealing pieces of her pizza when they both thought I wasn’t watching made me certain of the fact.

  I hadn’t been able to take my eyes off of her since she stepped foot in my home, so I’d seen it all, but I got up to take the call anyway.

  It took longer than I’d thought. It was Victoria, wanting confirmation for every single meeting I had for the rest of the week. The reception desk was manned 24 hours a day and she was obv
iously working the night shift, I had wondered for a second why she’d made out like we had plans tonight if she was working, but let it go pretty quickly.

  I impatiently sat through the call, confirming names of different people, and the car’s that would need to be sent to have them picked up. When the conversation had turned personal, I’d told her I had to go and ended the call.

  Instead, wanting to spend my time chatting with Olivia. She was fun and easy to talk with, you wouldn’t believe she was nineteen if you didn’t know it; easily more mature than I was at that age.

  Wandering out of my office and through the kitchen, I notice she’d cleaned up our mess from dinner and switched off all the lights. I wondered for a second if she had gone to bed but when I turn the corner to the living room, I spot her; laid out in front of the open fire with Charlie spread out beside her.

  She’d fallen asleep there and Charlie had obviously copied her. I quietly walk over closer to her and kneel down. Taking in just how beautiful she was.

  Her long hair splayed out across her bare arm, her baby blue eyes hidden now beneath her full lashes. Mouth slightly parted in her relaxed state. She’d changed into a pair of house pants and a plain white singlet. It was nothing impressive, but with the fire crackling beside her, casting a warm glow across her fair skin, skin that thank god no longer was marred with bruises and discoloration. It was the most striking thing I’d ever seen.