29. Jessica
JESSICA
Iwas surprised to wake up feeling refreshed the next morning and even more amazed that I’d been able to fall asleep at all in the first place.
I’d thought it was a fluke that I had slept so well at his place and had even played around with the idea that it was because of him, but now I have to rethink that.
Maybe what did it was me finally leaving that ass Dale.
I stretched and smiled, looking forward to the new day and my own machinations, until I happened to look at the pillow next to mine.
The movement stopped me cold in my tracks, and all thoughts left me.
“Huh?” That’s odd. It looked like there was a head print there.
Then I came to my senses and shook it off.
Obviously, I left it there while I changed pillows throughout the night.
I hopped out of bed and headed to the shower.
This place, I have to say, even though I bought it on a whim and spent a lot of Julius’s money to do it, is a masterpiece.
Once I stop being mad at the fam, I’ll have them out for a weekend.
Thank heaven for one-way glass, because the bathroom, especially the corner with the his-and-hers tub, was nothing but glass overlooking the ocean.
The shower could fit five people easily if you were into that sort of thing, and I almost got carried away before I remembered that I was a woman on a mission. I have to tell Dad to hurry up and buy for the twins, since he’s been holding off because of his worries about shoddy construction.
The place had gone up so fast that he was afraid that it was just paper-thin walls and half-inch nails, his words.
But it was obvious that they’d gone old-school on this one.
There wasn’t a hint of drywall to be found.
Instead, when I knocked against it, there were blocks and rebar back there.
It was a good buy. I smirked at myself in the mirror, almost wishing I could see Julius’ face when he got the bill.
Since I’d grabbed my overnight bag on the way out of his place last night, I didn’t have to wear the same clothes today, which was an added boon.
I was even more tickled to be defying him because of what I did have to wear.
My brother must’ve been high when he packed for me because most, if not all, of the things in there were clothes I wore around the house.
Short shorts and crop tops. Julius would have a coronary if he saw me leave the house in the pleated mini skirt, a la my cheerleading days, and the tank top that barely covered anything, it was so tight.
I slid my feet into my leather flip-flops, put some gloss on my lips, pushed my shades into my hair on the top of my head, and prepared to face the new day.
First order of business, coffee. I needed some fast, then to the grocery store to stock up on some supplies, of which there were none.
Only then can I sit down and relax as I investigate the aftermath of my actions against Charlotte.
I’d given her superiors more than enough information and cookie crumbs to follow.
I thought of calling home but didn’t in the end; let them sweat it out for now.
I guess I forgot that the phone worked both ways because both Mom and Dad called before I took my first sip of coffee.
I reassured them that all was fine, and since they didn’t ask, I didn’t tell them where I was.
Dad sounded like he knew everything anyway, and the fact that he wasn’t asking too many questions was suspect.
Whatever, I had more important things on my plate to deal with.
It was still early, so the office wasn’t open yet, but the spyware I’d attached to the files I sent was doing its job.
The company head had already contacted their lawyers and in-house auditors and had spent the time since receiving my little bombshell trying to catch their ass.
If this thing got out, not only would Charlotte face the heat, but he, too, would be in a world of hurt.
Her crimes went beyond embezzlement; she was also part of a crew that sold citizens’ private information to third parties.
Whoever was behind her was very slick because, the way things looked, the company was set to take the fall.
If they have any sense, they’d handle things in-house to avert as much damage as possible, but now I was the third wheel, the unknown entity that could swing things either way.
I hadn’t planned on using this at first. I’d thought of other ways to alert the company heads to what was going on, plus a soft part of me gave thought to the fact that she was young and was probably coerced by someone else.
I started out wanting to cause trouble for the two of them, her and Dale, because they’d played me for a fool.
Using the no fraternization rule that their company had was enough to cost them both their jobs, which would’ve been a minor nuisance that could’ve been handled with a new job search, and who knows, they may have even found something better with time.
But that was before she’d given my man looks at the restaurant that night.
Did she think I was a pushover? Sure, I’d let her have Dale without a fight because he was little more than cannon fodder in my book, but Julius was off limits to everyone else breathing.
She’d looked at him as if, given the chance, she’d hop into his bed.
Now she’s going to jail for a very long time.
Dale the idiot wasn’t part of that, but once it was learned that those two were an item, it would be hard for him to convince anyone that he wasn’t in on her shenanigans. I still plan to out him sometime today, but for a little added drama, I’d make it seem like he too was part of it.
Of course, there was no solid evidence to support that, so he could easily slip out of the net I plan to cast with a good lawyer, but his cushy job was pretty much gone.
I felt giddy just thinking about the look on his face, and I plan to be there in my usual spot across the street watching the show when the time comes.
I felt so warm at the thought that I forgot about being mad at Julius for the tiniest of moments. Once again, I was filling my head with anything but that most glaring issue, which was him, always him. My poor heart is going to give out because of his mess.
On the one hand, I’d love to understand this whole family legacy thing, and on the other, I’m trying to find the justification for what he did to me. I guess I can understand him running scared from a younger me who came on way too strong. But his fear back then had cost me a lot.
If I gave in to him now, it might set the wrong precedent. Nope, not gonna happen. If he plans on any kind of happily ever after with me, he’s gonna have to just stand there and let me get my pound of flesh without uttering a word of complaint.
As I sipped the last bit of coffee, a thought came into my head, and I grinned like a loon as I stood up and headed for the door. A quick trip to the supermarket and then I’d put my new plan into action. I had plenty of time between now and putting Dale’s life in the shitter.
I stopped when I got behind the wheel to take a good look at my inner self. Maybe I enjoy mayhem too much? I haven’t felt this joyous and relaxed in years. But the thought of bringing Dale down and stirring the waters in Julius’ life gave me the warm and fuzzies.
JULIUS
Damn, I forgot the pillow. I’d fixed the sheets and covers so she wouldn’t know I’d been there, but somehow that one little thing had slipped my mind.
It was too late to worry about it now, and no use trying.
Besides, she may not even notice, as heavily as she sleeps.
She’d more than likely be groggy once she does awaken.
If Dad and Roman hadn’t assured me that this girl was just an insomniac who passed out when she did fall asleep, she would’ve scared me to death again last night.
Even though I had used that very diagnosis to sneak into her house last night, it was still eerie to stand next to her sleeping form and not get a response.
I’d sat outside waiting for her lights to go out but was totally prepared to sleep in my car since she had trouble falling asleep.
So, I was pleasantly surprised when they went out a little after midnight.
I’d sent the men away until the next day, or however long she took to come to her senses, and sat there deep in thought.
As soon as the lights went out, I used the French door in the breakfast nook that my boys had sabotaged earlier when she was upstairs with the realtor.
As soon as the sale went through, I knew what she was up to, of course, and had put my own plans in action.
They’d slipped a coin between the lock, and that was enough to get me in when the time was right.
Since there was no alarm to disarm, it was an easy in.
I have to say she has good taste. The place is solid and in an excellent location. Of course, she’d chosen the best and most expensive one to hit my pocket. If she thought spending my money was supposed to faze me, she was dead wrong.
I wouldn’t have given her the limited-edition black-and-gold card if I had that worry.
She could buy ten more like it, and it wouldn’t matter to my bottom line.
Plus, I owe her way more than that. When I slipped into her bedroom last night, I’d stood there for a long time just looking down at her pretty little face.
This is what I have to look forward to for the rest of my life.
The thought didn’t give me heart palpitations or make me break out in a sweat.
Instead, I felt a peace that hadn’t been there before.
She didn’t sense me, didn’t budge when I slid in beside her.
She did murmur when I drew her into my arms but settled quickly and didn’t open her eyes.
I’d lain there awake for a while longer before sleep took over. I was sure from what had happened before that she would be passed out until at least noon, so I had no worries about her waking and finding me here.
I slept like a log with her in my arms and woke up with the sun to start my day. I didn’t risk taking a shower there, though, because I found that I liked her not knowing that way I don’t have to hear her mouth. But for as long as she plans to stay there, I’d be spending the night.
I thought I had her just where I wanted her until my own mother called me not long after I got to the office. I’d gone home after leaving Jess to shower and get ready for the new day and had kissed Mom goodbye the way I always do; there were no issues then.
Now there was frost in her tone. The kind of tone that makes you forget that you’re a grown man. “Mom….”
“Don’t Mom me. You go fix what you broke, or don’t come home. You hear me, Julius Blair? I thought you had more sense than your brother, but I guess I was wrong. How did I ever give birth to two such dumbasses?”
“Hey, how did I get involved?” Roman complained from somewhere in the room with her. I gritted my teeth and sat back in my chair. That little…