Chapter 20
Jack’s face was horrified. “I don’t know what to say. You didn’t know? Didn’t suspect?”
I looked down at my hands to see they were shaking with the memory. I clasped them firmly together. “No, I had no idea. Like I said, I thought he was going to propose. Not tell me he’d already done so. To someone else.”
He nodded, pity written all over his face. “What did you do?”
I spooned up some ice cream and swallowed it.
“I went to our apartment, well, his apartment and packed. While I was packing one of his father’s bodyguards showed up with a job offer from his father.
” I took a breath and wiped tears away from my eyes.
Lord, I thought I’d already used up all the tears on this subject.
“When I turned down the job offer, he pulled out a second offer. It was a check with an astonishing number of zeroes that came with a complex NDA/ legal document that said by accepting the money I was promising to never disclose details of our time together and to never see him again. Something I was only too happy to agree to.”
With a quirk of his mouth and a raised eyebrow Jack asked, “Did you take the money?”
I took a sip of my wine, placed the glass back on the table and nodded.
I raised my eyes to meet his and answered, “Yes. I figured if he was going to treat me as a prostitute, I might as well be well compensated for it.” I was silent for a bit, then with a gallic shrug said, “I don’t know, though.
I’ve thought about it often and wondered if in taking the money I made myself into a prostitute.
Prior to that, I was just a girl in love.
“Part of my reason for taking it, though, was to put a full stop to the relationship. His family is…intimidating. I didn’t want them to think they had anything to fear from me. So, I signed.”
“What did you do then?” he asked, carefully.
“I moved back in with Grandmere. Bernard got me an interview with his friend, Merrick Frank, who owns Duvier. I got the job and left the country as fast as I could.”
Uncomfortable with so much of myself revealed to Jack’s probing gaze, I took another sip of my wine. The ice cream was now soup. I wondered if it was worth putting in the freezer or if I should just put it down the drain.
I put on a brave smile and said, “So now you know the sordid backstory of Eve. Shocked? Repulsed?”
His brow furrowed and he looked unhappy. “No, I’m just sad that someone would treat you like that. And I’m amazed. He must be all kinds of dipshit to pull a stunt like that. You are well out of that relationship, Eve.”
“I know. I tell myself that all the time. It’s better to have loved and lost than to be saddled with a lying, cheating bastard.”
“Ha!” Jack punched the air. “LCB; I get it!”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I call him. And he deserves it.”
“So, what did you do with your pile of cash? Buy your own island? The Hope diamond?”
“No, you’re sitting in it, Jack. My home. I told you once it was my severance package. A big thank you for services rendered.” He heard the bitterness in my tone and reached for my hand but stopped himself before he touched me.
Jack glanced around the room. He seemed about to speak, then reconsidered and stood.
“Thank you for sharing that with me, Eve. You’ve given me a lot to think about. Now I should get going.”
Of course he did. Now that he knew I was basically a common prostitute, well, an extremely well-paid prostitute, he was not interested. But that was OK. We had differing goals. He wanted drive-thru relationships, and I wanted to be loved and cherished, even if that would never happen.
I walked him to the door, and he turned to look at me. “Eve, you know, even if you don’t want to…you know…be with me, we can still be friends.”
I replied softly, “I’d like that, Jack. I think you’re basically a good person. I’d like to be your friend.”
He nodded once and left. I shut the door behind him and tried not to think how it felt like shutting the door on my heart.
I cleaned up, washing the wine glasses and pouring the ice cream down the drain. I considered pouring myself more wine, instead I grabbed a protein bar and went to run a bath.
Taking a bath was my way of destressing.
When I was particularly upset, I’d add a variety of ingredients, like mix-ins at a frozen yogurt stand.
Today seemed like a good day to bring out the heavy artillery.
Luxe had sent generous gift baskets to each of the execs as a thank you for our business deal.
It was time to open mine and see what was inside.
Lavender-scented Epsom salts. Yes, please. Bubbles? Why not. Dead sea clay? Um, no, I didn’t want to have to clean the tub after a mud bath. Oh, and what’s this lurking at the bottom? A gold-wrapped box of French chocolate truffles in assorted flavors? Absolutely.
I ran my bath to the perfect temperature, lit some candles for ambience, added my bath toppings, and when it was sufficiently bubbled, I slid in. Ahhhh. I felt the warmth chase away the autumn chill in my bathroom, and the chill around my heart.
I unwrapped one of the truffles and bit into it, enjoying the snap of the coating, slowly allowing it to melt on my tongue, savoring the silky smoothness of the ganache. Protein bar? What protein bar? Chocolate is on the menu for dinner tonight.
As the tension seeped out of my limbs, I allowed myself to think of Jack.
We were done. Not that there had really been anything there.
There had been lots of flirting. And some amazing kissing.
But it wasn’t like there’d been a boyfriend/girlfriend thing going on.
If I’d had a personal Facebook account, I wouldn’t have had to change my status from “in a relationship” to “single.” Single seemed to be my permanent status.
But that was OK. I was used to it. And so, I did what my grandmère had taught me to do, so long ago, when I was sad and lonely. I revisited my mental gratitude list.
1– I was grateful for Grandmère, who’d come to rescue a frightened, orphaned 10-year-old, taken her home, loved her, raised her, taught her, and always 100% supported her (me).
2– I was grateful for my job. It wasn’t something that I took for granted, especially when so many people were without jobs. It allowed me to travel, meet people, do something I do well, and to afford luxuries like chocolate. Although, was that really a luxury? More of a staple.
3-–I was grateful for Diane, who was the salsa to my cheese quesadilla. She made work easier, more enjoyable, and helped me make it through the tough days.
4– I was grateful for Bernard, who I knew looked out for Grandmère. If I didn’t have the assurance of him next door to her, I would worry about her a lot more.
I hesitated on 5. It was tough, but I knew 5 had to be Jack.
I was grateful I’d had the opportunity to meet him, to help him, to know him.
I’d really enjoyed the time we’d spent together.
There probably would be no more Jack times in the future, but I was grateful for what I’d had.
I had some lovely memories that I would cherish.
I wasn’t angry with him. In the way that a tiger’s gonna be a tiger, Jack would always be Jack.
A playboy, a womanizer, out for a good time.
I couldn’t hold that against him. He’d never presented himself as anything else.
I wanted to keep thinking of Jack, but I disciplined myself to move on down through the list to #10, my apartment.
By then my water had cooled off and it was time to get out. I drained the tub, rinsed out the bubble froth, rinsed myself quickly in the shower, and wrapped myself in a hugely fluffy towel. (You do not work for a luxury hotel without figuring out the best place to buy towels.)
I had just stepped into my bedroom when my phone rang.
Odd. Who would be calling me late on a Thursday?
Of course, my heart leapt to the conclusion that it must be Jack, and he was calling to say he’d made a mistake and wanted to profess his undying love.
My reason quickly stomped all over that idea and said, “Pick up the phone and find out who it actually is.”
Running international time zones through my head, trying to figure out which office would be calling at this hour, I answered, “This is Eve Lambert. How may I help you?”
“Hi Eve.” The sweet voice sounded faintly familiar. “This is Kimi. From PRTY. Is this a bad time for you?”
Swallowing my surprise, I said, “Hi Kimi. No, not at all. What’s up?”
“I wanted to ask you something, but it might be kind of awkward.”
“No problem, Kimi. What’s your question?” My mind was racing, trying to imagine what her question might be. Was it about Jack? Was it about the band? She really was with Morgan, right?
“Um, I just got a certificate for a couples spa day at Luxe spas, and I wondered if you might like to go with me this weekend.”
Uh oh. I knew exactly where that certificate had come from. As soon as he was done with me, Jack wanted no more reminders of me, so he passed it along to Kimi. But why would she ask me? Why not Morgan? Which is exactly what I asked.
“That’s so kind of you to offer, Kimi. But wouldn’t you rather take Morgan?”
“Oh, you know we’re together? Whew, I thought you might take this as me hard-core hitting on you.
It’s not, just so you know. I just thought it might be nice to get to know you better.
I don’t have many girlfriends, seeing as how I live with a male drummer and spend almost all my time hanging around a bunch of guys.
Sometimes it’s nice to take a break from the testosterone fumes. ”
“Oh, wow, that’s nice.” I paused, searching for how to phrase it delicately. “You know, Jack and I aren’t together now.” Maybe that would change her desire to get to know me.
“Oh, I know. He told me about that,” she laughed a cheerful laugh. “Not to worry, I still would love to hang out with you. Say you’ll come!”
I considered. It might be fun to get to know another female who wasn’t work related. And hanging out with Kimi didn’t mean I’d be hanging out with Jack. We could be an entirely separate thing.
“I’d love to,” I told her. “When were you thinking of?”
“I have reservations for this Saturday. Does that work for you? I can change the reservations if you already have plans.”
“Actually, I have Saturday free. That sounds lovely. Shall I meet you there?”
We exchanged time and place details and disconnected. I found I had a smile on my face as I was brushing my teeth. I had something fun to look forward to.
It wasn’t until I was snuggled deep under my pile of blankets and was drifting off to sleep that the thought skittered across my brain—how did Kimi get my number?