CHAPTER 37
MELANIE.
“WALK IN A STRAIGHT LINE PLEASE.”
I took a few steps looking straight ahead without wobbling. Jordan’s doctor observed me with shrewd blue eyes as I did so. Then he brought out a small penlight and switched it on “Follow the light please” he said and flicked it in different
directions.
I followed it as best I could until a small headache began to brew. Then he put me through some coordination tests and finally put his book and penlight away.
“Well, It seems like you’re okay now.”
I flashed a triumphant look at Blaine and Jordan who were leaning on opposite sides of the doorway. Blaine gave me a grin and a thumbs–up while Jordan’s expression remained the same.
We thanked the doctor and Jordan walked with him to the door, leaving Blaine and me alone. My heart started to thud in my chest as Blaine came towards me with a soft smile, “Finally. I’ve been trying to get you alone for some time. You, Mel, are a hard lady to pin down.”
I managed a flippant smile and raised one shoulder, “It wouldn’t be fun if it was easy.” In reality, as Blaine came to stand in front of me, all I could think about was my encounter with Jordan in the kitchen that night. I still couldn’t believe how I’d let my guard down so completely and even challenged him.
We don’t even like each other, but I couldn’t deny the molten heat that had rushed through me when it looked like he was going to kiss me.
Blaine cupped my face with his hands and leaned in, planting a soft kiss on my lips. I smiled into it as warmth flowed through me, then caught myself comparing the both of them.
With Blaine, it was all warmth and butterflies but with Jordan, it was goosebumps and electrifying heat. Feeling guilty, I stepped back and felt like kicking myself when I saw the hurt and concern on Blaine’s face.
“Mel, are you okay?”
I forced a smile “Yeah I’m fine. I just need to sit down for a bit.”
I sat on the nearest sofa and closed my eyes to stave off any further questions until I heard Jordan’s footsteps come back
into the room.
“Does this mean I can come back to work now?” I asked. Even though facts stated that nobody had ever actually died of boredom, I was sure I was on the brink of it. I’d done nothing but sleep, wake, eat, work out or talk to Laura this past week and a half and I was done.
“I’m not sure. I quite like your temporary replacement. He’s a bright, talented young boy who knows how to follow orders and doesn’t answer the phone in ten different accents” Jordan said. My cheeks burned in mortification “It was just one time” I said defensively.
“No, it was a dozen different times” he retorted.
I folded my arms, more embarrassed about being caught than about doing it. I had no reason to be; it was fun and turned a dreary duty into one with a plethora of possibilities.
Still, I’d grown accustomed to the job, and his thinking about replacing me with some guy rankled more than I cared to admit.
“You forgot to add that he’s gay, follows you everywhere, has a massive crush on you and has probably fantasized about sleeping with you more than once,” Blaine said drily..
I burst out laughing at Jordan’s stony expression.
“Oh my God, you have a male lover.”
That stony expression shifted to include me, “I certainly do not. I also do not judge Marco by his sexual preferences. And as for this alleged crush, I cannot confirm or deny.”
“Oh please. The boy has every magazine with your face on it stacked in his bottom drawer with little hearts drawn on them” Blaine said, making me laugh harder. This just got better and better.
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Setting
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CHAPTER 37
“I guess I resume tomorrow then,” I said smugly.
rdan looked at me “Actually, since you’re so eager to get back to work, I have a meeting with the heads of some companies and their assistants in an hour and I want you there to take the minutes. Get ready and meet me downstairs in thirty” He
said.
I sprang up from the sofa and snapped out a mock salute “You got it, boss.”
Reveling in his responding annoyed grunt, I all but skipped out of the room as Blaine said. “You and Marco would make good–looking children though.”
I chuckled as I ran lightly up the stairs and entered my room, pulling off my oversized shirt as I did so. I was in and out of the shower in ten minutes, pausing briefly in front of the mirror to stare at the places where bruises had once bloomed. Now they were barely there and didn’t hurt so much.
Considering that a win, I pulled on work clothes and was downstairs waiting beside the car by the time Jordan stepped out. He barely acknowledged my punctuality as we got into the car (today, a Tesla) and drove off. I fiddled with the car stereo until I heard a song I liked.
As he hadn’t slapped my hand away I kept it at a moderate volume all the way to the place of the meeting.
When we pulled into the venue a valet appeared from nowhere and stretched out a hand for the keys which Jordan gave to him along with a generous tip.
“Whatever you do, do not leave my side” Jordan murmured. “Why?” I asked in an equally low tone as we entered the building, automatically mapping out all visible exits. What can I say, I’m a creature of habit.
“I do business with these men, but that doesn’t mean I trust them 100% and I’m sure they feel the same about me and each other” he answered.
We stepped into the conference room and there was an immediate lull in conversation. Everyone’s eyes were fixated on us and the whispers started again as we made our way to our designated seats. I kept a neutral expression on my face as we sat but I was analyzing every single person in the room for any possible threats.
A mixed–race man who looked to be in his late forties stood up and cleared his throat.
“Now that we’re all here let’s get this meeting. Welcome ladies and gentlemen. In front of each of you, you’ll find a dossier. Please pick it up and turn to Issue 1” he said in a lightly accented voice.
The meeting started in earnest and I prepared to tune out all the talk about numbers and statistics when a look from Jordan reminded me I was here to take notes. I did so the best I could and then entertained myself by adding my analysis of each person and their actions each time there was a break.
I’d gotten to the sixth seat on the opposite side of the long table when I zeroed in on the man, or boy, sitting there.
He was sweating despite the frigid AC and kept shifting nervously, as jumpy as an addict going through withdrawal.
I kept my eyes on him and therefore noticed when he put his hand in his suit jacket. I went on alert and nudged Jordan just as the sweaty man stood up, grabbing everybody’s attention.
He aimed the gun at the head of the man next to him and announced…
“Anybody moves, I’ll blow his brains out.”
