***
Night had covered the world in darkness as we landed at another private airport. I could see the lights from the city starting to sparkle and shine, twinkling glimmers in the cold winter night. I could see a bridge I knew had to be famous lit up like a summer sky, but before I could even ask what bridge it was, Rachel was hurrying me onto a helicopter.
My interest in the bridge was quickly overpowered by the noisy machine as I climbed in and sat down. Rachel calmly put the headphones over her ears and pointed to a set for me. I couldn’t help it, but my hands shook as I put them over my head. I sat glued to the window as we flew into the heart of the big city. I didn’t dare blink or I would miss something. Buildings taller than my imagination emerged from the darkness as we floated through the air, the lights shone like glittering beads. The entire city looked like an elaborate piece of giant’s jewelry shimmering in the dark.
After only a few moments, the helicopter landed on the roof of a building. I couldn’t even guess how many stories above the ground we were, the building was far taller than anything from my hometown. Rachel carefully nudged me out of the helicopter, comfortable even with the blades whizzing above her head as she herded me toward a strong iron door. As we approached, a suited arm pushed it open and we stepped inside.
The quiet of the stairs hummed after the noise of the helicopter engine. I could feel my hands still shaking, but I tried my best to hide it from Rachel. I never thought I would ride on a helicopter, but I certainly thought I could get used to it.
The suited man who had opened the door escorted us to a large wooden desk with the DS Oil and Gas logo printed on the wall behind it. It was well after the end of a normal workday, so no secretary sat in the chair, but Rachel walked past it to a large doorway with two giant wooden panels. She knocked confidently once, and motioned me over. I stumbled over my feet, but made it next to her by the time a voice called out to come in.
Rachel turned and straightened my jacket, brushing several flyaway strands of hair out of my face before giving me a quick smile and opening the door. She stepped in confidently, and I followed, trying desperately to mimic her confidence. I suddenly realized I had no idea what I was going to say to him.
Jack sat at a large mahogany desk, papers and electronic pads scattered haphazardly across the large wooden surface. His back was to the door, a phone up to his ear as he spoke in a clipped voice. Every word oozed dominance and surety. This wasn’t the boy I met on the beach. That voice didn’t laugh and giggle, drinking margaritas in the sand. The man in front of me was cold and full of authority and power.
The phone conversation ended, and he turned abruptly to face the two of us, annoyance and fatigue painted on his face. However, as soon as he saw who had invaded his office, that smile I knew lit up his features. I could see the Jack I met on the beach in that smile, the business man banished to the shadows for a moment.
“I expect you two had an uneventful trip? Good,” he said as he stood and began to walk around the desk. “Thank you Rachel. I’m sure you have things that need to be taken care of.”
“Yes, Sir,” Rachel said formally. She turned, and as she passed me on the way to the door she said quietly, “I’ll be at the desk down the hall to the right when you are finished.”
I nodded shallowly, unsure of what was going to happen next, and I bit my lip as I watched her close the door carefully behind her before turning to face Jack.
“I’m sorry to have caused you so much trouble,” I said quickly. He stopped in his tracks, shaking his head and smiling.
“If anything, I should be the one apologizing to you. If I were a normal person, this never would have been front page news.”
“I’m still sorry that this must be a press nightmare for you. How did they get those pictures?” I asked quietly. He finished walking around to the front of his massive desk and leaned against it, crossing his arms and looking at me with dark eyes.
“My secretary. The one who came on the trip. She was angry and looking for a way to make me pay.” His eyes somehow darkened further, turning into deep pools with no bottom. “She is no longer in my employ.”
“What are we going to do?” I asked. There was a space between us. It wasn’t more than a couple of feet, but it felt like miles. We were two very different people. He was wearing designer pants and a button up shirt, the suit jacket carelessly hanging on the back of his chair. The jacket alone was probably worth more than my car. I stood in sale-priced shoes and a torn coat, wondering what in the world was going to happen next.
Jack sighed and his arms tightened. I wanted to touch those muscles again, but at the same time, he was so different from the man on the beach, I wasn’t sure if I could. He spoke easily, as though I were a client and this wasn’t our lives, but instead a business transaction.
“My father is furious. He feels that this celebrity status is distracting from business and distracting me from my work. He holds no animosity towards you, but this is not how he planned this transition to go. He wants to do nothing, to let it all blow over and focus on the transition,” Jack stopped and caught my eye. “But I couldn’t leave you to the mercy of the paparazzi hounds by yourself though. You will be staying with me in my home and under the safety of my security team. I heard the paparazzi were a bit rough with you at the airport.”
I realized I was playing with the torn pocket of my jacket and I quickly dropped it. “I’ll live. Thank you though.”
“This should all blow over soon. I want to make sure you are safe. I don’t want anything to happen to you, Emma.”
My name on his lips made my body go warm. Something uncoiled deep in the pit of my stomach, asking for more, but before I could decide what to do, the phone began to ring. Jack glared at it for a second before leaning over and answering it curtly. He listened for a moment and then told the caller to wait a moment as he pushed a button and set it on the desk.
He was across the room to where I stood in less than two strides. “I have to get back to work, but I want you to know that I’m glad you’re here Emma. Despite the circumstances, I’m glad.” I could hear the truth in his voice and I couldn’t help but smile. I was glad to be here too.
Jack leaned forward, pressing his lips against mine. This kiss wasn’t the same as the ones from the island. This was reserved and formal, but it still fanned the heat growing inside of me. He stepped back, a devilish grin spreading across his face as I flushed. The smile stayed on his face until he sat down in the large leather chair and picked up the phone. I knew that was my cue to leave, and I slipped out the door as the businessman’s mask slid over his face.
Chapter 12
Jack’s home was the most beautiful living space I had ever seen. It was as if a giant had placed a fully furnished house on top of a skyscraper. The entryway was dark, but I could see city lights through the towering glass windows in the main room. Rachel closed the door softy behind me and offered to take my jacket. I shrugged out of it, glad the room was warm after the cold March air outside. I stood, glancing around, trying to figure out how big Jack’s home really was.
“There are three bedrooms, an office, a dining room, living room, and the kitchen. There is a pool on the terrace, but it is currently empty due to the weather. The hot tub is open though,” Rachel said, reading my mind. I gulped slightly. This was bigger than my parents’ house and it was sixteen stories in the air. “I’ll show you your room.”
Rachel guided me into the main living room across hardwood floors. The furniture was sleek and modern, but it felt comfortable. As we walked into the room, a gentle light turned on making it easy to navigate but not bright enough to cause glare on the floor-to-ceiling windows.
“That’s the Statue of Liberty,” I whispered, drawn to the windows like a child. I wanted to press my hands up against the glass and peer outside, but I only managed to gape and stare out the window. I never thought in a million years I would ever walk into a place with views like this.
“Yes. If you’d like, I can arrange a sightseeing tour of the city for you.” Rachel stood watching me, a bemused smile on her face.