“Did you get my text messages?” I asked.
“Yes,” he responded without looking up.
“Why didn’t you text me back?”
“I really didn’t have time.”
“Oh.” I stood there feeling like an idiot. “How’s Coco?”
“She’s fine.”
“Any more news about Joshua?”
“No.”
“Does your mother know what happened?”
He sighed and looked up at me as he grabbed his coffee cup.
“What is this? A million questions? If I wanted to talk to you about this, I would. You have a ton of work to do since you were out all last week. I suggest you get to your desk and start working.”
Wow. Wow. Wow. What the fuck was his problem? I quietly walked out of his office and sat down at my desk. Asshole. I pulled out the small framed picture I had of Hope and set it next to my computer. A few moments later, Garrett walked up and I couldn’t help but notice the large bruise on his face.
“Ouch. What happened?” I asked with concern.
“Jack didn’t tell you?”
“No. Jack isn’t saying much to me these days.”
“He punched me.”
“Oh my God. Why would he do that?”
“I’d rather not get into that right now. How are you feeling? How’s Hope?”
“We’re both a lot better. Thank you for asking.”
“Good. I’m happy to hear that. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to talk to Jack. Let’s hope he doesn’t punch me again.” He winked.
Sitting there, I watched Garrett walk into Jack’s office and shut the door. What the hell was going on with him that would make him punch his best friend?
A few moments later, the door opened and Garrett walked out.
“Escaped without any assault.” He winked with a smile and then strutted down the hallway.
Garrett left the door open to Jack’s office and I couldn’t help but steal a glance from my desk. Jack was sitting in his chair, looking out the window.
“Oh shit!” he exclaimed as he jumped up and ran down the hallway.
I needed to know what was going on, so I followed him down to the lobby, and when I reached the doors, Coco was standing outside trapped by a bunch of paparazzi who were taking her picture and shoving small recorders in her face. Jack grabbed her and led her inside the building. I hurried and stepped into the elevator before they saw me. The shit storm had arrived and Jack and Coco were left to deal with it alone without any help from their mother.
I made it back to my desk and I saw Jack take Coco into her office. He was in there for about an hour. Before going into his office, he stopped at my desk.
“You are to field any calls that may come in from anyone asking about Joshua or the company.”
“Yes, Jack. Don’t worry.”
He picked up the frame from my desk and stared at the picture of Hope. Without saying a word, he set it down, walked into his office, and slammed the door. I flinched.
After working on a couple of projects, I glanced at the clock and saw it was lunchtime. Grabbing my sketchbook and my purse, I knocked on the door and told Jack I was heading to lunch.
“Jack, I just wanted to let you know that I’m going to lunch now.”
“Fine. Don’t forget my coffee.”
I sighed and shut the door. “Don’t forget my coffee,” I mumbled as I headed toward the elevators. With his attitude towards me, he’d be lucky if I didn’t spill it all over his desk and leave him to clean it up. Exiting the building, I headed down to the café for a sandwich.
After my lunch was over, I went to Starbucks and got Jack his afternoon coffee. When I arrived back to the building, the paparazzi had grown in size and began to crowd me.
“You’re Jack Sutton’s PA, aren’t you?” one man asked.
“Yes. That’s right.”
“Would you care to say a few words regarding the murder of his sister’s boyfriend?”
“I’m sorry, but I know nothing about that.”
“Rumor has it that Kit Sutton fled the country? Did she know something about it?”
I sighed. They were all around me, invading my personal space and not letting me get inside the building. I looked at Jack’s coffee and then back up at the people who surrounded me. I took a step forward as if I was pushed and accidentally spilled some coffee on the guy in front of me. Then I spilled some on the person next to him and then the person next to him. They backed off as they began to yell.
“If you wouldn’t have invaded my personal space, I wouldn’t have spilled coffee on you.” I smiled.
Suddenly, I felt a hand grasp my arm and pull me back. Jack led me inside the building while holding up his hand at the paparazzi.
“Thanks, but I didn’t need saving.”
“If I didn’t stop you, there wouldn’t be any coffee left for me to drink.” He smirked.
I gave him a small smile and we rode the elevator up in silence.
****
Over the next couple of days, nothing much had changed. The paparazzi were still camped outside waiting for their next victim. But when they saw me coming with coffee in my hands, they slowly backed away and let me get through. As I was sitting at my desk doing some work, Daniel from the editing department walked up.
“Hey, Lorelei.” He smiled.
“Hi, Daniel.”
“I saw your profile on Match.com,” he said rather loudly.
Oh shit.
“Really?” I cocked my head.
“Yeah, and since we know each other, I thought instead of messaging you online, I’d come talk to you in person.”
Double shit.
“Oh.” I raised both my eyebrows in surprise.
“I was wondering if you’d like to have dinner some night.”
I took in a deep breath when I saw Jack jump up from his chair and walk over to my desk.
“Lorelei, in my office, NOW!” he shouted. “And as for you, Daniel, she isn’t going to have dinner with you. Now get back to work before I fire you!”
I took a seat across from his desk and he slammed the door.
“What the fuck are you doing?” he asked.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re on Match.com? Really, Lorelei?”
My knees were trembling and I needed to get a grip.
“Yes. What’s wrong with that?”
“What’s wrong with that? Do you know how many psychos there are in the world looking for someone like you to prey on?”
“Yes.”
Clearly, he was upset by the fact that I was on a dating site. It was none of his damn business and now I was getting angry.
“‘Yes?’ Is that all you can say?”
Clearing my throat, I spoke, “What I do on my personal time isn’t any of your concern, Jack.”
His eyes were now fully consumed with anger.
“It is my damn concern if something happens to you and I’m left without a PA!” he yelled.
“Then you’ll hire another one!” I yelled back, losing all control.
“I don’t want another one. You’re by far the best I’ve had. Both personally and professionally.” He realized what he had said and turned his back to me and stared out the window with his hands in his pockets.
I was stunned at his words and I couldn’t find it in me to shoot anything back at him.
“Thank you. If you’re done screaming at me, I have work to do.” I got up from my chair and headed towards the door.
“Lorelei?” he called out to me. “You’ll date some random stranger that could hurt you, but you won’t give me the time of day?”
My stomach sank and my heart started to ache.
“You already hurt me, Jack.” I walked out and carefully pulled the door shut.
Tears started to form in my eyes, so I went into the bathroom to collect myself.
Chapter Forty-Five
Jack
I closed my eyes after hearing Lorelei speak those words. Even after everything I did for her, she still hadn’t forgiven me for the things I said after finding out about Hope. I took a seat in my chair and cupped my face in my hands. I missed her and I missed Hope. Not only did Lorelei have an impact on my life the minute she spilled coffee on me, but Hope did as well. I looked up when I heard the door open and Coco walked in with two men dressed in suits.