"Yes James, I understand... yes, of course... yes... Very
good." Mr. Hayes spoke smartly into his phone as he and Tracy rode down in the elevator. Tracy had got used to the morning calls from James and had stopped paying attention whenever Mr. Hayes's phone rang. He hung up the phone as they exited the elevator.
The doorman met them with a set of keys. Tracy smiled, knowing that Mr. Hayes probably had the car arranged the moment he’d stepped out of the chauffeured car the night before. His shoulders relaxed as the keys slid into his hand, and he knew he was in control yet again.
Tracy was quiet as Mr. Hayes started the car. She was still reeling from her premonition and her discovery of the spring-loaded shoe-heel. The implications were staggering. Tracy tried to figure out what Jenna would gain from killing Mr. Hayes.
Was it a financial motivation? Jenna's father was simply an investor and would actually lose money if Mr. Hayes died. Jenna was not in Mr. Hayes' will. Emotional reasons, perhaps? No, Tracy sighed as she shook her head. Jenna obviously had enjoyed his company, both at the salsa club and in the bedroom. She didn't have an emotional reason to kill him. Yet, the hate of the dream stuck with her. It just didn't make sense, but the dreams had never been wrong.
She'd tried to get more answers this morning, but Jenna was hungover and didn't want to talk. The younger woman wasn't as accustomed to alcohol as she had let on the night before, though she insisted she'd had a wonderful time. She'd even kissed them both when they left.
"You’re awfully quiet, Tracy. Are you alright?" Mr. Hayes asked, glancing over at her. He looked so comfortable in the driver's seat, carefully guiding the car back to his mansion. She shifted on the leather seat, her dress fitting uncomfortably the morning after.
"Bad dreams," Tracy said carefully. She wasn't sure if she should tell him what she had seen. There was a very real possibility that he was just going to dismiss her concerns as nothing but nightmares.
"I had great dreams last night," he said with a smile. He turned and caught her eye. "Thank you for that."
Tracy smiled, but it was half-hearted at best.
“What's wrong, Tracy?” Mr. Hayes asked. His voice held real concern and it sounded nice after the nastiness of the dream.
Tracy bit her lip before speaking. "I don't think Jenna is quite what she appears to be."
"What do you mean?" Mr. Hayes asked, his eyebrows coming together.
Tracy sighed. "I'm actually kind of suspicious about what Jenna has planned for you. I think she might try to hurt you."
“What?” Mr. Hayes frowned. “Why? And when? That makes no sense, Tracy.”
“I don't know why. But, if I had to guess, it would be at the charity ball.” Tracy looked at him, hoping he would take her seriously. “I don't think she's what she seems.”
“The charity ball? You're still upset about that?” Mr. Hayes looked over at her, his mouth agape. He stared at her as if she had grown a second head. "I can't believe you'd stoop to this level. I didn't think you'd be jealous, especially after how much fun you were last night, but apparently you are."
"I'm not jealous!" she practically screamed. It sounded untrue, even to her. "I’m actually concerned for your well-being. I just don't want you to go with her to the ball. I don't trust her," Jenna responded.
His patronizing tone grated on her. If only Mr. Hayes knew about Tracy's dream connections, he wouldn't dismiss her so lightly. Then again, he'd probably dump her immediately. There wasn't a good way to tell him how she knew. She wished he would just trust her on this.
"Tracy, I didn't want to bring this up until later, but I am going to the charity ball with Jenna. It's already been arranged," he said, having the decency to look at least slightly embarrassed.
"WHAT!? No! You can't go with her!" Tracy nearly screamed. It took all of her willpower not to completely lose her cool. There was no way that she could allow this. Jenna was going to kill him.
"I'm sorry, Tracy. Jenna's father insisted. I owe too much to that man not to do this," he said.
She decided to use the one phrase she knew had worked before. "Going to the ball with Jenna would displease me greatly and I know how much you want to please me," Tracy tried desperately to hold onto her composure. She hoped this tactic would work again.
"Tracy, this has already been arranged. I can't change it now. I am going to the ball with Jenna whether it pleases you or not. Please, don't let your jealousy ruin this for both of us," Mr. Hayes said, using his authoritarian billionaire voice. It made Tracy's blood boil.
"I don't want you to go with her. You can't. Bring anyone else. Anyone. I know you have a book full of beautiful bimbos who would do anything to be seen with you. Bring one of them. Anyone but her," Tracy pleaded.
"No, Tracy,” Mr. Hayes said coldly. “I am going with Jenna."
"She is going to kill you," Tracy enunciated every word as carefully as she could.
"Jenna is not going to kill me. You’re just jealous and had a bad dream. Don't make wild claims you can't support." Mr. Hayes took a quick look over at her, as if to make sure she was okay. "This isn't like you, Tracy," Mr. Hayes said, and Tracy couldn't tell if it was concern or anger starting to creep into his voice.
"You aren't listening to me at all. I just told you that I think Jenna is going to murder you, and you shrug it off and tell me you’re going to go to the social event of the year with her. You know what? You can just drop me off here," Tracy replied angrily. This wasn't how she had envisioned the day going.
"I am not dropping you off here. Your apartment’s only a few blocks from here." Mr. Hayes rolled his eyes. Tracy gave serious thought to hitting him.