CHAPTER 37
Jackie was on her daily treadmill power walk, looking at the deal for Ramón and Mo’s fight. Mo was entirely too amped about it, promising to name his first daughter “Jackie.” Jackie begged him not to do that. There were enough Jackies in the world.
Guzman had been surprisingly agreeable to most of the terms she’d proposed. A few details would have to be negotiated, but as an agent, this was all par for the course.
As Jackie was rounding out her mile and lip-syncing an old school MC Lyte verse, Calvin called to say she had a visitor. She was surprised to see Tanika at her door.
Tanika tapped gently on the doorframe. “Hey Jackie. Got a minute?”
Jackie stopped walking and embraced her girl, then offered her a seat on the sofa. Tanika sat quietly, brows furrowed. Her look worried Jackie.
“What’s good? Is it Gideon?” Jackie typed.
“No, babe. Gideon is fine,” Tanika sighed. “It’s about PJ’s interview.”
Jackie’s heart dropped to her stomach.
Tanika rubbed her eyes under her glasses. “First off, I want to tell you thanks again for letting Sara interview PJ. Cutting her chops with such a major guest is a big deal for her. I’m sure ratings will be through the roof, but I wanted to talk to you before this airs on Friday in primetime.”
Jackie took a sip of water before typing. “Nik, you’ve got me worried. What’s going on? Antonio said that the interview went well, for the most part.”
Tanika ran a hand through her silver-streaked hair. “It did. But it’s not a great interview. We had to do a lot of heavy lifting in editing. PJ was really nervous, and it showed—especially when Sara asked him about his dad. He got agitated. What’s up with that?”
Shit. Jackie didn’t want to continue keeping secrets from her best friends, but this wasn’t hers to tell. Hastily, she typed, “PJ is just super private, that’s all. Can’t you edit that part out?”
“I guess we can. I mean, people do deserve some modicum of privacy, even if they are in the public eye. On the other hand, maybe we should keep it in—a little agitation is good television.” Tanika shrugged. “Besides, who don’t have daddy issues? Am I right?”
Jackie gave an awkward thumbs-up, wishing she could come clean.
“Girl, you’ve got the opposite of daddy issues,” Tanika said. “No man can measure up to Marcus Miles. He was an angel on earth.”
Jackie smiled and typed a reply. “He was. No one can compare.”
“How about Antonio?” Tanika asked, her brow raised.
Jackie sucked her teeth before typing what she felt was the truth. “A couple of hot sexual encounters and a few sweet gestures don’t make the perfect man.”
Jackie didn’t want to think about her and Antonio beyond the present. There was something between them, but she didn’t want any pressure. If she told Antonio she wanted to take things to the next level, he’d be ready to go full steam ahead. And that scared her.
“Enough about that, let’s talk BACHELORETTE PARTY!” Jackie’s app yelled, changing the subject.
“Jackie, I don’t know if I have time for all of that,” Tanika whined. “Hell, I barely have time to plan this wedding. I got wild stuff going on here at WWSN. Outside of work, I doubt I’d have time to get away.”
Tanika’s words gave Jackie an idea. “What if we combine work and play? Why don’t we go to Atlantic City for Mo’s fight in April? WWSN will cover the fight regardless. You can use it as an excuse for a bachelorette party.”
Tanika squinted at Jackie. “Now you know if I say I’m going to Atlantic City, Gideon is going to want to go too. And so would his boys. Boxing and gambling are right up their alley.”
Jackie shrugged, then typed. “Okay! Let’s make it a joint thing. I mean, unless you’re trying to have one last fling before you get married.”
Tanika laughed. “You know damn well you’d kick my ass if I even hinted at a thought of cheating on your cousin. Besides, I love my Giddy Bae. I don’t need a fling.”
Jackie made a vomiting motion with her finger. Tanika and Gideon’s sugary-sweet romance could be a little much for her, though she was glad her matchmaking skills had paid off.
“Girl, please! You had a hand in us getting together in the first place. Anyway, I gotta go. But Jackie…” Tanika put her hand on Jackie’s shoulder. “Nobody is perfect, girl. You should let someone love you in the way that fits you perfectly. It sounds like Antonio wants to do that.”
Jackie didn’t believe in soulmates, but Antonio did fit her nicely. He was like the corner edge of a pan of brownies—the best part.
Tanika pulled Jackie into a hug before she could respond. “Love you, boss chick! Bye!” She blew a kiss and headed out the door.
The email alert on Jackie’s computer made its bing sound—it was probably Guzman either approving or countering the changes. She opened the new message without looking at the sender, then gasped in surprise.
FROM: A.Steele @
TO: J.Miles@
SUBJECT: Saturday
Ms. Miles:
Please pack an overnight bag and have an ID or Passport.
Include: a dinner dress, a casual change of clothes, and comfortable shoes (Do you even own a heel lower than 4 inches?)
PS: “Other” garments are optional.
Sincerely,
Antonio Steele
Senior Agent,
AMW-Elite
Jackie chuckled and rolled her eyes. He could have just texted and asked me out, she thought. But then again, Antonio had a slight flair for the dramatic, which she could appreciate. She could honor his special request to not pack underwear.
FROM: J.Miles@
TO: A.Steele@
RE: Saturday
Mr. Steele:
First time I’ve been privy to kidnapping details. And of course I don’t own heels lower than 4 inches. I find most flat shoes impractical and ugly as hell. But I’ll pack something reasonably adequate.
PS: These “other” garments you speak of? If you mean what I think you mean, I wouldn’t have packed that anyway.
Jackie Miles
Senior Agent
AMW-Elite
Jackie spent fifteen frustrating minutes trying focus on work after she sent her reply, only to have her flow interrupted again.
Calvin knocked as he entered the office carrying a massive bouquet of flowers.
The bouquet was bigger than Calvin, and he had to be at least six feet tall.
He placed it on the table opposite Jackie’s desk.
Jackie crossed the room to inspect the flowers: an unusual mix of tulips, orchids, and roses, in a cornucopia of shades.
Calvin hovered over her shoulder. “I couldn’t find a card, and the delivery person wouldn’t give me any details. Who are they from?”
Jackie shrugged, but heat was creeping into her cheeks.
“I know Mo is grateful you got him that fight,” Calvin said. “Could these be from him? Congrats on that, by the way.”
Jackie went to smell the flowers. Between two roses and some greenery, she spotted a very small white card. She waited for Calvin to leave before she opened it.
Tulips symbolize new beginnings. Let’s start over, Lucky.
Jackie smiled. Antonio was in Anaheim working on a deal for a minor league catcher who was moving to the majors; if he was in the office right now, she’d go kiss him. God, what the hell has come over me? She felt like someone had replaced her brain with mushy thoughts.
She pulled out her phone.
JACKIE: Thought you weren’t a flowers kind of guy. They are gorgeous. Thank you.
ANTONIO: Not *just* a flowers guy. I like to mix it up. But pretty girls deserve pretty bouquets.
Suddenly, her Facetime began to ring, and she answered. There was Antonio, dressed in a polo and slacks, the California sun beaming down on his skin.
“Hey,” he began. “I know you can’t talk, but this was too much to text. Lucky, you deserve to be flown around the world if you wanted to. Baby, you deserve it all….”
Jackie blew out a breath. When Antonio said that kind of stuff, it made her so tingly inside—almost as intense as the electricity she felt when they touched. It was a new and uncomfortable feeling.
“I can’t swing a transatlantic flight on Saturday, but…” Antonio grinned. “I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.”
Jackie raised a brow and shook her head.
“Don’t shake your head. If you don’t like what I’m coming with, I’d love to learn how to please you better. Show me, ma. I’m a fast learner.”
Jackie felt her face grow hot. She had to look away from the screen. When she looked back up Antonio was smirking, biting his full bottom lip.
“Alright, Jackie. I’ll see you Saturday. A driver will pick you up.”
Jackie let out a low whistle. A driver? Well excuse me, Mr. Steele.
“Like I said, baby, you deserve it.” Antonio winked, kissed his two fingers and tapped the phone. “Bye Lucky.”
When the call ended, Jackie clutched the phone to her chest. Antonio was really applying pressure, making up for lost time. She tried to stop the tingles, but they had spread throughout her entire body.
Honestly, if he did kidnap me, she thought, I wouldn’t even be mad.