Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Lorelei
What a pleasant and quiet week with Jack gone. Such a shame it was coming to an end, and he’d be back in the office on Monday. I even snuck out early a few days and picked up Hope from school.
It was Sunday afternoon, and Hope and I packed our last picnic lunch of the year and met my mom, Nick, Stella, and Sebastian in Central Park. The weather was starting to change, and it was getting chilly. After eating lunch, Sebastian and Nick took Hope over to the swings.
“When is Jack expected back?” Stella asked.
“His flight gets in tonight, and he’ll be back in the office tomorrow.” I sighed.
“That man sounds like a horrible person,” my mother spoke. “I don’t know how you can stand working for him.”
“I have no choice, Mom. He can be a handful, but he’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“I think Mr. Sutton has a crush on your daughter.” Stella smiled.
“Stop that! He does not.”
“Well, if he does, Lorelei isn’t that stupid to get involved with a man like that. Right, honey?”
“Yes, Mom.”
“But…maybe a little casual sex wouldn’t hurt.” She smirked.
“MOM! He’s my boss.”
She shrugged. “So what. Sex is sex. It doesn’t have to mean anything. I had plenty of sex with different guys after your father died.”
I covered my ears with my hands. “STOP IT!”
Stella fell back on the grass in hysterics.
“Relax, Lorelei. Did you really think I didn’t have sex until Nick?”
“She hasn’t,” Stella spoke as she sat up.
The look on my mom’s face displayed a great deal of shock as she looked at me.
“For real? You haven’t had sex since Brett?”
“I am not talking about this.”
“Sweetheart.” She reached over and grabbed my hand. “You’re too young to go without sex for that long. What is wrong with you?”
“What? How could you ask that? Nothing is wrong with me. I just haven’t had any interest in men since Brett died. Hope is my life, and I’m not going to screw it up by going out and having meaningless sex with strange men.”
“You’re not screwed up, are you?” She winked.
Thank God Nick, Sebastian, and Hope walked over because I couldn’t take any more of this conversation with my mother.
“Are you ready to go, baby? We need to get you in the bath.”
“Are you going to pick me up again tomorrow?” she asked as she put her arms around my neck.
“No, sweetie. Mr. Sutton will be back in the office tomorrow,” I spoke as I ran my hand down her hair.
“Hey, Hope, I have an idea,” Stella spoke as she took hold of her hand. “I happen to be off work tomorrow, so how about if I pick you up from school and we can go shopping? I need some new makeup, and I would like you to help me pick some new colors.”
Hope’s eyes lit up, and I gave Stella a small smile.
“I would love that. Is it okay with you, Grandma?” she asked.
“Of course, it is, baby girl.”
“Thank you.” I mouthed to Stella.
After Hope’s bath, we sat down at the kitchen table, and I began sketching a new dress while Hope did her homework. Suddenly, I heard my phone beep from my purse. It was my business phone, and there was a text message from Jack.
“I’m back in New York. I hope you didn’t miss me too much. We have a lot to go over tomorrow, so be prepared for a very busy day.”
Great.
“Welcome back. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Don’t forget my coffee.”
I rolled my eyes.
“I won’t. It’s become part of my morning routine.”
“Good. Try not to spill it this time.”
“I’ll do my best. Have a good evening, Jack.”
“You too, Lorelei.”
“Who were you texting, Mommy?” Hope asked as she looked at me.
“My boss.”
“Oh. Addison’s mom and her boyfriend took Addison to the zoo yesterday. She told me on Friday how she couldn’t wait to go.”
“That was nice. We can go to the zoo if you want.”
She shrugged and went back to doing her homework. I could tell something was off with her, and it bothered me.
I prepared myself the next morning to get ready to walk into the lion’s den. Walking into Jack’s office, I noticed he wasn’t in there, so I set his coffee on his desk. As I was walking out, I ran into him in the doorway. I mean, literally ran into him. He lightly took hold of my arm.
“Good morning.” He smiled.
“Good morning. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I love it when beautiful women run into me.” He winked.
Shit. Vibrations down below were starting, and my stomach began to flutter. He called me beautiful. The mere sight of him was intoxicating. I guess not seeing him for a week really heightened his sexy factor.
“How was Paris?” I asked.
“Paris was good, but it would have been even better if you were there,” he spoke as he took a seat behind his desk. “How is your mother?”
“Oh, she’s feeling much better.”
“I see. Was it just a virus or something?”
“Yeah. We think so.”
His eyes glared at me. A glare that told me he knew I was lying.
“Hey, Jack,” Coco spoke as she poked her head into his office. “Mom needs us upstairs now. Good morning, Lorelei.” She smiled.
“Good morning.”
Jack sighed as he got up from his desk. “Lorelei, we’ll review a few things when I get back.”
I gave him a nod and followed him out of the office. Taking a seat at my desk, I turned on my computer. Curiosity got the best of me, so I googled Paris Fashion Week, and a shitload of pictures popped up with one Mr. Jack Sutton and a glamorous-looking brunette. Something inside me sparked—a touch of anger or jealousy perhaps. I didn’t really know, and I wouldn’t say I liked it. My mind began to fill with images of him and her in bed. Some of the pictures were of them sitting on the balcony, sipping coffee in their white robes, overlooking the beautiful city of Paris in the early morning hours. ‘It would have been even better if you were there’ kept playing over in my head. If he was with her the whole time, how the fuck would it have been better? I shook my head, came to my senses, and closed the browser.
As I was trying to focus on my actual job, Jack strutted down the hall and asked me to come into his office.
“First thing on the agenda is I need you to go to Chanel and pick up their new flap handbag in burgundy. Also, pick up matching gloves and a scarf. Then you are to head to Ralph Lauren and pick up one of their wool-down men’s jackets in black. Also, pick up a scarf, but make sure it has a design and some black leather gloves.”
“Is that all?” I asked.
“Yes. You may leave now.”
I got up from my seat, and Jack called my name as I was about to walk out of his office.
“Oh, Lorelei. I need another box of condoms.”
I stopped dead in my tracks and didn’t turn around. “Okay.”
I bet he needed another box of condoms after his week in Paris with that skinny bitch. After Chanel and Ralph Lauren, I stopped at the drugstore and went straight to the counter.
“Hello, Lorelei.” Juan smiled.
“Hello, Juan. Mr. Sutton needs more condoms.”
“I’ll be right back.”
“Do me a favor and grab ten boxes.”
“Ten?” he asked with surprise.
“Yes.”
A few moments later, he returned with the condoms, rang them up, and bagged them. Grabbing the bag, I walked out and headed back to the office. Throwing the bags on my desk, except for the one that the condoms were in, I walked into Jack’s office, where he was conversing with Garrett. I dumped the bag on his desk and let all ten boxes fall upon it.
“There. Now you should be set for a while.” I turned around, said hello to Garrett, who was sitting there with a wide grin and stomped out of Jack’s office.