Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
JAMISON
After two days of radio silence from Dori, I’m crawling out of my skin, not knowing where she is.
Fuck.
I can’t blame her, but she should be more aware of how her avoidance won’t work. She didn’t let me explain why I left her at the club and look where that got her.
Where could she be?
I should’ve told her about Lauren and Aricin from the start, but I was trying to protect Dori from additional stress and rectify my situation with Lauren first.
How am I going to fix this mess I’ve created?
I check my emails, and a thought comes to mind. Aiden said to send her an email if I needed her. Well, I need her, so ready or not, here comes a letter.
Dori,
I can’t express how sorry I am. The last thing I wanted was for you to find out about my son like you did. I should’ve told you about him when we went out that night, but there’s a reason I didn’t.
Please let me explain what that is face-to-face. I don’t want to put it in a letter because I want to be there with you in case you have questions.
I’m sorry about Lauren as well. Although we are no longer a couple, we share something that will tie us together for life. No matter how terrible she treats me, I’ll never leave her to deal with our issues alone. That’s not who I am as a man. I think you already understand that.
She shouldn’t have hit you, and I pray she didn’t hurt you. She has problems, Dori. I’m trying to get her to see that, but she’s young and stubborn.
If you just hear me out, you’ll see I meant no ill will by keeping this from you. If anything, I was trying to protect you from needless pain and Lauren’s abuse.
I thought I could deal with it on my own, so everything would’ve been handled by the time I told you about my past. Things would’ve been in place so we could’ve moved forward without another obstacle standing in our way.
I wanted to create something that you could easily accept and move into. Never did I hide it from you because I didn’t want you to know.
I love you, Dori. I have for a very long time. Please don’t shut me out. Please remember what we have. Not only are you meant to be my lover, but you’re part of me. I can’t lose you.
Please don’t walk away from our love. It only happens once in a lifetime. Don’t let it skip this one.
You know we’re supposed to be together. It’s always been us. You and me, my sweet temptress.
Jesus, I love you so much it hurts, and I pray I didn’t ruin us. I’m so sorry, Dori. I’m begging you to please, please, please talk to me. Let me make it up to you. I promise I will.
Forever my love,
Jamison
I send it off and sit, staring at the screen and willing a response to come in. My breathing kicks up as I wait. I swipe my palms down my pants.
When nothing comes back, I decide to burn off some of this energy at the gym, so I change and make my way into the exercise room.
Halfway into my routine, Hunter comes in. He’s doing something on his phone and not paying attention to anyone in the area. I study him for clues as to whether he knows where Dori is. He’s not ten steps into the room when the door opens behind him.
A woman with short, wavy brown hair and a pretty face comes through the opening. She grabs Hunter by his bicep.
He faces her and they share a brief exchange. Then she pulls out her phone and types away as he speaks to her. When they’re done, she gives him a thumbs-up and leaves.
Who was that?
Hunter turns back and spots me stepping away from the squatting cage. He tips his chin my way and jumps onto a treadmill. I shouldn’t be surprised he doesn’t approach me since we aren’t friends, but he’s too relaxed. Too confident, almost.
Was that the woman who got Dori’s belongings from her loft?
My intuition screams in my ear. He knows where Dori is—there’s no doubt in my mind. If he didn’t, he would’ve asked me if I had found her yet. And if my suspicions have been right all along, he’s been having her followed.
Bingo!
Two can play that game. I sit on a bench to recover and text Mateo, asking him if he knows anyone who could do surveillance in the area.
Since he owns a shit-ton of sex clubs around the world, he sometimes has to track down people who have done not-so-legal things in his clubs. He can’t use the police or local authorities because it could risk the privacy of the other very powerful members.
I’ve never asked Mateo what he does once he finds the people who break the rules, but something tells me he doesn’t sit down and play cards with them.
He responds within minutes.
Mateo: This guy is the best in your area. Joe Ison. I’ll send his contact card in a minute .
Fuck!
Of course, it would be him. Fuck my luck.
Me: Don’t bother. I need someone else.
Mateo: Why? And please tell me this has nothing to do with Hunter.
Me: Why would you think that?
Mateo: Last time I saw him, he was asking about you. I can’t say he had kind words. It doesn’t look good, considering you’re building something that will revolutionize the gaming industry for him. Makes me believe you pissed him off.
Pissed isn’t a strong enough word.
Me: When and where did you see him?
Mateo: The exclusive gentleman’s club the night after I hung out with you last. He was shit-faced, so I took everything he said with a grain of salt. I doubt he remembers it. He had some woman sitting in his lap. But if you’ve done something to make him angry, my advice is to straighten it out. He can be ruthless when it comes to his business. Be careful.
Me: This isn’t about business. This is personal. I can’t use Joe. Hunter already had him dig up information about me. I need someone else. Someone who can be a ghost.
Mateo: Shit, Jamison. You don’t know what you’ve started. I’ll send you a contact, but do not use my name. The code phrase is, When in France. Now, delete this message and never write it down.
Me: Consider it done. Thanks.
I lean back and glance around the room with a strange heaviness weighing on me. A few minutes later, I get a text from an unknown number. I open the message and my ghost’s contact number shines up at me. Pierre is his name. That and his number are all I receive.
Mateo: I forgot. Use a different phone than yours to contact him. You don’t want to be traceable.
With that, the hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention.
Do I want to do this?
I don’t know what choice I have. I can’t use Aiden or Joe. Pierre is my only hope.
I press off the bench and gather my stuff. I’m on my way out of the gym when Hunter finishes his run.
He steps off the treadmill and stalks toward me. “Jamison, can I have a word with you?”
“I guess.”
“I wanted to let you know Jonah and I are off for the next two weeks. Of course, we’ll be reachable by phone and email if you need us, but we won’t be in the office. Hailey’s off as well, but that shouldn’t affect you.”
I study him for a hint that he knows where Dori is. “It shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll plan on working from home.”
He nods and gives me a once-over. “Any word from Dorothy? ”
And there it is. Why he’s asking remains a mystery, but he’s up to something.
I tilt my head. “No. I figured she’s on vacation and I’ll see her in the New Year.”
“Yeah. She should be good and rested by then.” He wipes his face with a towel. “I’ve been thinking.”
I cock a brow and place my hands on my hips. “About?”
“My New Year’s resolution.”
What’s he playing at?
“I’m sure it’s a good one.” I step aside to pass him, but he stops me.
“You and I have certain agreements in place, Jamison. I want them renegotiated.”
And now he has my undivided attention. “How so?”
“Dissolved, actually.”
I pull back. “You can’t be serious.”
He pins me with a steely stare. “I’m dead serious. I’m coming clean to Dorothy about everything. When that clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve and signals a new beginning, I want the slate clean.”
“What does that mean, Hunter?”
“It means I plan on telling her everything you’re holding over my head.”
I force out a laugh. “So you can have all the power. Got it.”
“No, you don’t. I’m not holding anything over your head anymore. No more threats. No more cross-handed deals between you and me. It’s over.
“My vendetta against you is over. I can’t say I’ll ever be your friend again, but you won’t be my enemy either. Now, if you choose to come after me, you put that mark on your back, not me.”
My brow furrows. “What the fuck does that mean?”
“It means be careful, Jamison. Think before you do something foolish. ”
“So there is still a threat.”
He takes a deep breath and releases it between his lips. “Jamison, listen to me. I’m not holding anything over you anymore.
“Any secrets you have, your contract, or anything I may have threatened you with is clean. Wiped from my memory. If you continue to go after me, that’s on you. My part in our little war is over. I’m waving the white flag. I surrender.”
His stance softens and he gives me a look of sincerity. Something has him worried. The fear in his eyes is unmistakable.
Still, I’m not entirely buying it. “You can’t blame me for being suspicious about your sudden change of heart.”
“In normal circumstances, I would agree with you. In this case, please listen to me. Let our fight with one another be over. I’d hate to see something happen to you.”
And now he’s just toying with me. “Whatever, Hunter.”
He bears down on his molars. “Dammit, Jamison. Listen to me. That little gift you delivered wasn’t given to you by chance. If it means what I think it does…”
My chest grows heavy.
He shakes his head. “Let’s just fucking make peace with each other once and for all. When Dorothy gets back and decides who she wants to be with, it’ll be based on her feelings about us, not on our underhanded moves against each other. I want her out of this. She can’t be caught in the crossfire. And honestly, I don’t want you or me to be either.”
I’m at a loss for words. This is hardly the interaction I expected with him. No, this is even more worrisome. Something has Hunter spooked. After a few moments of my glare, he growls under his breath and trudges out of the room.
I return to my apartment and ruminate over what just went down. I’d like to believe him and move on from this war, but he mentioned he wanted the slate clean by New Year’s Eve. That means he plans on having contact with Dori sometime before then.
I stare at Pierre’s contact number. Mateo and Hunter have said something about me not understanding what I’ve started. That betting chip Ava gave me has all the answers. Too bad I gave it back to Hunter.
How does that fit into the picture?
Ava is the only one who might be able to answer that. I’m about to reach out to her when my phone rings. It’s from a number I don’t recognize. My adrenaline spikes. Instantly, I think it’s Dori on her new number.
My hands shake as I answer the call. “Hello.”
“Hi, Jamison. It’s Isabella Carter. How are you?”
Disappointment covers me. “Oh, hi. I’m fine. How are you?”
“I take it I’m not the person you were hoping to hear from.” She laughs under her breath.
“Sorry. I thought you might be someone else. How can I help you?”
“I have an opportunity for you.”
“Yeah? And what would that be?” I plop down on my couch.
“I can only assume what was going on between you and Dori in the restaurant bathroom that night we all had dinner together. But if I were a betting woman, I’d say it was something to remember.”
My heart rate ramps up, remembering Dori lying back on the counter with her dress hiked up and her legs spread open for me.
Isabella continues, “I’m good at reading people, and I think you and Dori are involved, but are keeping it a secret for whatever reason, so here’s my proposal.
“Efron Worldwide is hosting its annual Christmas ball on Thursday. I was going to go with my business partner Shane Weston, but he’s needed back at our corporate offices. Would you want to go together?”
“What makes you think I’m not already taking Dori?”
“Like I said, I think your relationship is being kept a secret. Why else would you say you care deeply for one another but won’t date so you can keep your focus on the app, only to disappear together into a restaurant bathroom?”
I shrug as if she can see me. “You have me there. Look, Dori and I have a long history, and that doesn’t bode well with Hunter. I’d appreciate it if you could keep that information to yourself.”
“Why would Hunter care and Jonah wouldn’t?”
I rise to my feet to get something to drink. “It would bother Jonah as well. I only mentioned Hunter because you two have a personal history. I’d like to believe you and I can keep those indiscretions to ourselves.”
She clicks her tongue. “I guess I do have a history with Hunter, but I don’t care who knows. I just want another chance with him. That’s where you come in.”
“So if I take you to the Christmas ball, you get the opening you need, and I get to be with Dori at the event undetected because you’ll keep Hunter entertained. How’d I do?” I go to the kitchen and grab a glass out of the cabinet.
“You hit a home run. So, would you like to go together and spend some quality time with the people we’d like to be romantically linked with?”
“I can’t blame a woman for going after what she wants. But how do you know they’ll be there?” I fill my cup with water.
“Dori mentioned it to me last week. I was under the impression she was going, and I was assuming Hunter would be there since he’s the CEO.”
“He doesn’t like big parties, so he might not be there.”
“He doesn’t like parties? Then why is he constantly pictured at them? ”
“It’s part of his work requirements.”
“Is there a chance he’ll be there?”
“I guess, but I wouldn’t count on it.” I gulp my water.
She takes a moment to consider something. “What the hell? Let’s take a chance.”
If there’s any way Dori will be there, I’m in. I’ve got to take any opportunity I have.
“Tell me where to pick you up?” I grab a pen and paper from my junk drawer.
Isabella squeals like a teenager. “Thanks, Jami. You won’t regret it.”
I can only hope she’s right. Time’s ticking down to New Year’s Eve. Hunter has a plan and something tells me if I don’t find Dori by then, I may as well kiss her goodbye.