Chapter 20
“Jordan, I have a proposal for you,” Dean Donwell said, the next morning via Zoom.
“Certainly, sir.”
“I’d planned to send Lionel to Los Angeles on Wednesday for the investment meeting with Heyer Christie, but Lionel’s got the flu. He tells me that you know the key elements of the account, so I was hoping you’d agree to go in his place.”
“To LA?”
“You’d travel business class, of course. Stay at the Westin.” Dean leaned closer to the screen. “You know the details of the account, don’t you?”
Jordan was the details. “Yes.”
“Then will you do it?”
Lord? Peace flowed. Which made the answer easy. “Sure. Thanks for the opportunity.”
“Hey, it’s good to see people being willing to step up and take responsibility.” Dean nodded. “It’s the way to get VP status one day.”
“VP?” Had Jordan heard him right?
“It may surprise you to know that I’ve had my eye on you for a while.
I thought EJ was more suited, but I’ve come to see you hold just as much knowledge as she ever did and command a good deal of respect from among your coworkers, if not more.
” Dean leaned back in his seat. “I wouldn’t be surprised if one day we see you running Donwell Enterprises. ”
Seriously? “Wow, sir. That’s a real honour.”
“I know.”
Jordan bit back a smile at the typical Deanism as Dean discussed details about the trip, and he realised it would involve leaving Sydney early Wednesday morning.
He’d probably need to stay near the airport on Tuesday night so he could make his flight on time.
Nothing like an early flight and getting to the airport by 4 a.m. Still, business class meant comfortable seats, so maybe he’d be able to catch a snooze on the flight.
The call ended, and he felt a mix of pride and uncertainty. Because now he’d be back in Sydney. Which meant he had no excuse not to see EJ.
Which meant he probably needed to work on that forgiveness thing. And maybe see what she’d been sending him so many messages about.
He was about to open his phone when his mum tapped on the door and gently pushed it open. “Oh, good. You’re off your call. Can I come in?”
“You’re half in already, Mum.”
“Oh, look at that, so I am. Well, is everything okay?”
“Mum, you know when I said I’d be working from home, I actually meant I’d be working.”
She blinked.
Yeah, he didn’t think she understood. He withheld a sigh. “Is there something I can help you with?”
“Look, I’ve just received a call from Elizabeth. She’s a little concerned about EJ.”
Good. Then maybe she’d do something about it.
“Is everything okay between the two of you?”
“Mum, I’m supposed to be working. Not talking about my personal life.”
Her eyes gleamed. “So, there is something going on between you two.”
“Nope. She’s involved with Eric Churchill, remember? The billionaire’s son. She doesn’t have time for small-town peeps anymore.”
“Oh, but—”
“Sorry, Mum, I don’t want to talk about it more. But hey, here’s some real news. I just got asked by my boss to go to LA on Wednesday for work. How cool is that?”
“Oh! That’s, uh, very exciting. But how are you going to get everything organised in time? Don’t you need a visa or something?”
“An excellent question. Which is why I need to return to work right now, okay?”
“Of course. Sorry for interrupting.”
He felt like a bit of a heel, but he knew if he allowed his mother’s constant enquiries, he would never get all the things done that needed doing. And while Maree might be rearranging flights and bookings into his name, he still had plenty of things he had to do himself.
Which may just include talking with EJ like he guessed his mum had been hinting at.
He flicked open his phone. Then saw a litany of missed calls and messages from a certain number. He sighed, then prayed. Lord, help me be brave enough to deal with this. Please show me what You want me to do.
He tapped open the most recent one.
“Hey, Jordan, there’s an important meeting this Tuesday night for Dream Match that I really feel you should be at.”
He scoffed. “Seriously, God?”
Could God make His intentions any clearer? What were the chances of a sudden work trip requiring his presence in Sydney on Tuesday night exactly when EJ—and Dream Match—needed him?
Chances were pretty good if God had orchestrated things.
“Great.” His heart tensed. So, Elinor and Katie and both mothers would be relieved. As apparently Jordan was now going to go to Sydney to see EJ.
Tuesday night Jordan took a train from the airport hotel to Circular Quay station. It was only a short walk to the Opera House from there. A short walk to Bennelong, where—of course—tonight’s “meeting” would be held.
He hadn’t answered EJ’s phone calls. Had only just managed to respond to her emails and texts, and only enough to get the barest details about where and when.
Keeping her at a distance like that had allowed time for him to sort out some of his feelings.
He needed to keep his emotions from getting in the way of what had to be done.
And after letting the other Bennett sisters know that he was going to see EJ after all, giving some of the details, a lot of emotions were already flying around.
Katie had apparently gone down several rabbit holes and found further proof of more of Eric’s affairs.
Not while with EJ, but other women, other breakups, a constant stream of women that reinforced the man was a commitment-phobe.
Which made the whole idea of Eric investing in Dream Match feel a little hypocritical.
Or at least ironic. How could Eric support an app that claimed to help people find true love when Eric couldn’t keep it in his pants?
He shuddered, hoping, praying, it hadn’t come to that with EJ. Not that she was the kind to go there, but Jordan wouldn’t put it past Eric to try.
“Lord, keep her safe.”
He hurried past a gelato store, popular with tourists no matter what the weather.
Even on a cool Tuesday evening in winter a few punters were licking gelato from waffle cones.
The idea of eating gelato made him sick.
Or maybe that was knowing what he had to do.
Which was show EJ the photos that proved her boyfriend wasn’t faithful. Poor EJ.
A group of seagulls squawked at some unsuspecting tourists.
Foolish tourists, who didn’t realise that feeding one seagull a hot chip would soon see a flock of them demanding more.
Not that he had time or energy to care. With all that had happened this week, it felt like a miracle that he was still able to think.
And hopefully, still able to communicate in a way that would display some of that wisdom and grace he’d prayed about near the lighthouse weeks ago.
He didn’t feel like he possessed much light. He probably possessed even less wisdom. As for grace, that felt a stretch too far.
“Good thing You’re with me then, isn’t it, God?” he muttered, as he finally reached the Opera House’s famous steps. The Monumental Steps, apparently. And it sure felt monumental, as his footsteps slowed. The main entrance doors to the restaurant were on the box office level, near the foyer.
His nerves hammered as he prayed for the millionth time about what to say.
Further discussions with EJ’s sisters had suggested everything from confronting Eric directly to showing EJ the pictures. In some ways, he’d wished one of them would step up to be his wingman, to look after EJ when things were finally brought out into the open.
Another part wished he could do all of this privately. But he knew this couldn’t wait a second longer. Especially if tonight was the night that Dream Match might finally be something Eric got his claws into.
Lord, give me wisdom and grace. Wisdom and grace.
And help him be the friend EJ needed.
Nerves slicked EJ’s palms, forcing her to wipe them on her dress as the waiter led them to their table. Was Jordan here yet? She really needed him. She hadn’t told Eric she’d invited Jordan, not wanting any more of those fireworks that had greeted her birthday on Bondi Beach.
“Here you are, miss.” The waiter helped EJ with her chair.
“Thanks,” she murmured as the other guests for tonight’s final pitch were seated.
She bet Eric wouldn’t be pleased that she’d asked Jordan. But how could she not, when Dream Match was basically his baby too? She had to tread carefully. Everything felt so fragile, like she could slip and make a mess, and then where would Dream Match be?
She knew it wouldn’t take much for Eric to turn against her, to encourage his investment partners to walk away.
It felt like she was being carried along on a sea of falseness, fakeness, just like Jordan had accused her.
Which was why she wanted—needed—Jordan here, so she could have an anchor to something real.
Truth might sting at times, but at least it was honest. Flattery was lovely, but it wasn’t real. Flattery felt like a house of cards, one breath and it would all tumble down. These people, these so-called relationships, felt much the same. She glanced around, as panic rose. Oh, where was Jordan?
Their table was positioned near the window, allowing a grand view of the city skyline lit up in the night.
Outside, pedestrians walked past, taking pictures of the Harbour Bridge and occasionally looking in enviously at where they sat in the expensive surrounds of Bennelong.
Just like she always had. The have-nots looking at those who have.
She sipped her mocktail, knowing she had to keep a clear head, and kept scanning the pedestrians in case Jordan was outside. Would he know where to go? Of course he would. He’d been here before, just not to the restaurant part.
“EJ, are you looking for someone?” Eric asked.
Crunch time. “Actually, I hope you don’t mind, but I asked Jordan to come tonight too.”
“What?” Gwen asked.
EJ frowned. Why would Gwen have a problem with that? Tonight wasn’t her shindig; it was Eric’s. Wasn’t it?