10. Chapter 10 #2
As I set down my weights, feeling the sweat bead down my back, I decide that it’s time to get cleaned up for work.
My phone is on my dresser, and I go check it before heading into the shower.
Jinny and I both know that today is going to be a killer day, with so much going on at the office, but all the same she asks if I want to meet up later at her place, if for nothing else than just to lay back and relax.
Jokingly, I ask if her mother is going to be there, and she responds with, ‘Yeah, is that weird? She wants to watch this time’.
I can’t help the chuckle. I’m getting used to her sense of humor again.
But as much as I enjoy her company, I don’t want to get too close, and I decline.
She doesn’t make a big deal about it, thankfully.
And when I get to the office, I feel like I’m home free, but that’s when my desk phone rings.
The number shows that it’s a United Kingdom area code, and I lift a brow.
“Hello? Led Lawson speaking.” I answer, knowing that this call wasn’t screened by reception.
It’s a female voice, British accent, of course. “Led. This is Freddie.”
“Freddie. From the wedding?”
“Yes. Also, the woman that runs Drummond Motors in the UK. How are you doing?”
My brow lifts again. What could she want? She seemed to have a slight thing for my brother Rush at Jagger’s wedding, so why is she calling me? “I’m doing well, thanks. And you?”
“I’m doing well. Listen, this isn’t a business call, and I apologize in advance for that.”
“It’s...okay? What can I do for you?”
“Well, my friend Reya was really upset when you blew her off like that at the wedding slash convention. She’s too embarrassed to call you herself, so I’m doing it.”
My chuckle is mirthless. “She didn’t seem too upset to me. And she was the one that initiated the whole thing.”
“I get that.” Her tone is condescending. “I just want to ask you, for the record, do you have any interest in her whatsoever?”
I don’t even try to mask my bluntness. “No.”
The sigh is palpable. “Lord.” A mirthless chuckle.
“What’s the problem. You asked me for the truth, and I gave it to you.”
“Oh, no, that’s fine. I get it. It’s just...she’s really hung up on you.”
A ‘v’ forms between my brows. “Why?”
“In case you didn’t notice, Led. You’re a real catch. You’re not my type, I’ll admit, but you are a real catch. Handsome, smart, rich, and for her, you’re local.”
“She’s running a multi-billion-dollar car manufacturing company. Tell me she’s not exposed to that same caliber of men every day.”
“They’re all assholes.”
“I’ve got news for you, Freddie. I’m an asshole, too.”
She pauses for a moment. “I tell you what. You go on a double date with her, me and Axl Lennon, show her just how much of an asshole you really are, and we’ll call it even.”
“I don’t owe you shit, lady.”
“You owe her head.”
“You want to be a pig about this, I’m going to hang up.”
“I’m not being a pig. I’m just stating a fact.”
“That fact is none of your fucking business, and I don’t owe her shit, by the way. I didn’t ask her to do that.”
“You didn’t tell her not to, either.”
I’m pissed off. “Listen, if you call and talk to me about this shit ever again, I’m going to go straight to Wesley Hopkins. Do you understand?”
Another mirthless chuckle. “See, this is where the trouble lies, Led. Reya wants to go to Mr. Hopkins and tell him that you took advantage of her.”
I’m not buying this for a minute. “Bullshit. If she’s got balls that big, then why isn’t she making this call herself.”
“She wanted to play dirty. I told her that she at least owed you a chance to make it up to her.”
“She’s fucking insane. And so are you, for the record. If Wesley gets a hold of any of this, he’s going to fire the both of you for your fucking insanity. This is cuckolding. And I want no part of it.”
“Fine. Consider yourself warned.” She says and hangs up.
My fist balls up, just as my computer pings, reminding me that I have a meeting with my brothers.
I decide to put this issue on the back burner for now, because we have bigger fish to fry, and in all honesty, with this giant deal looming, there is no way that Wesley Hopkins is even going to give one iota of energy to this woman.
I mean, this is an important time for this company and for Drummond Motors, so why pick now to rock the boat?
I get to the boardroom last, but it looks like Rush, Jagger, Halen and most of the production team, including Bowie, have been here since lunch, perhaps riding on the coattails of a previous meeting. “You look like you just saw a ghost.” Rush states.
“I’m fine. Just a little bit stressed is all.”
Jagger lifts a brow. “Something up?”
I wave him off. “Na, just the usual. Work and shit.”
That’s when Jinny walks in, and I don’t know why I do it, but I divert my gaze from hers, even though I see the ghost of a smile on her face when she sees me.
Thankfully, she walks over to chat with Bowie, and I’m quickly forgotten.
I’m standing at the coffee carafe, pouring myself a tea, and Jagger comes right up beside me.
It comes out before I can stop it. “What is this...a circus? Why is every fucking person from every fucking department here.”
His brows furrow. “Do you have a problem with that? This is a meeting for everyone, you know that. We’re discussing how this deal with Drummond is going to affect the plant.”
“No, I don’t have a problem with that.” I lie.
“Or, is it just that you have a problem with one person.” He says, as his gaze goes over to Jinny. Luckily, she’s not paying any attention, smartly.
“Like I said. I don’t have a problem.”
“Well, you’re particularly crusty today, partner. Just so you know.”
“I get it. Back off.” I tell him, walking away.
The meeting is a complete waste of fucking time for me.
It has nothing to do with finance or budgets, and I begin to wonder who else feels like they just lost an hour and a half of their life that they’re never getting back.
The meeting adjourns at four o’clock and I head straight back to my office, not even bothering to say a word to Jinny, or to even look in her direction.
I’m not in my office for ten seconds when Rush comes in without knocking, as is the norm.
“Look, I’ve got a shitload of work to do, man.
What do you want.” I tell him without looking up from my laptop.
“Jagger said you’re pissed about something.”
“Yeah, well, Jagger should mind his own fucking business and fight his own fucking battles.”
He ignores my comment. “What’s the problem.”
“What are you, a therapist? What the fuck is this? I don’t need an intervention, I just need to be left the fuck alone, so that I can get my work done.”
He raises his hands in the air in defeat, and that’s when Jagger and Halen walk in. “He’s all yours.”
I expect Rush to leave, but he probably can’t stand not knowing what’s going on.
He’s the nosiest one of all of us, and it drives me nuts.
Me, I just mind my own business, and hope like hell that everyone will respect that and do the same for me.
But I guess I’m not so lucky in this case.
“What’s going on, Led? You scurried out of that boardroom like a bat out of hell. ”
Jagger sits on the edge of my desk, while Halen takes a seat next to Rush, in the guest chairs.
“Yeah, and look what good it did me. I just have a shitload of work to do, so can you both just leave me alone?”
If I know Jagger, he won’t let up. He’s relentless that way, and it’s annoying. “What’s going on with you and Jinny, hm? Are you sleeping with her?”
Rush interjects. “Wait, I thought that he was sleeping with Reya.”
Halen interrupts. “Maybe he’s sleeping with both. You dawg.”
Rush and Jagger snort a small chortle, while Halen just smirks.
I’ve had enough. “Look, all of you can just mind your own fucking business.”
Halen lifts a finger. “The word has been since Jagger’s wedding that you did the nasty with Reya.”
I give him a look. “Get your sources straight, Halen. I didn’t fuck her, she just gave me a blow job, and it’s none of anyone’s business.”
Jagger rises from my desk. “What, did you make it through all the ladies in this office, and now you’re moving on to Drummond’s office?”
My lips purse. “Funny coming out of your mouth, you fucking hypocrite.”
Rush and Halen exchange a look. They came here to referee. And possibly to instigate.
Jagger shakes his head, like he can’t believe I said that. His questions is rhetorical. “What’s that supposed to mean.”
“You married your fucking CEO, asshole. And then you come preaching to me about making my rounds in the office? Not to mention the fact that before Bowie came along, you were fucking your assistant. Hell, even Rush had to tell you to cut that the fuck out.”
“That was different.”
“How? Why, because you’re the fucking owner? It should go double for you, you jackass. At least I tried to keep my affair under wraps. I didn’t just fuck her in the office for everyone to see.”
Rush scratches his eyebrow nervously, while Halen scrubs a hand down his face. I address both of them. “And don’t tell me that the two of you don’t feel the same way, either, because if you do, you’re liars. I know it pissed everyone off, and that’s why she got fired.”
Walking around the room, Jagger is perplexed. “So, what’s all this got to do with Jinny, hm? If you’re fucking her, too, that is. I just want to know why you got so bent out of shape.”
I shake my head and just about hiss at him. “Why? Why do you even fucking care?”
“Because it’s my job. Not just because I’m your brother, but because as the owner of this company, I like my staff to be happy. Just like it’s your job to ensure that your staff are happy, too.”
“That’s bullshit.”
Halen looks over at my desk phone. “Who called from the UK? That looks like Drummond Motors.”