Another loud laughter left Jonah's lips he was struggling to breathe but he could not stop laughing. Elliot rolled his eyes getting annoyed. Catching his breath, "You know I have never seen anyone wear a turtle neck to go hiking in the peak of summer." Jonah tells him amusement twinkling in his eyes.
Elliot playfully shoves him, "Like it was not all your fault." He muttered under his breath. "What did you just say? Because your tone was totally different last night." Jonah said as he continued to laugh.
Elliot shook his head and picked up the speed leaving Jonah behind. "Hey wait for me." Jonah called out still laughing.
The afternoon sun was at an all time high. Elliot had long shed the turtle neck. The had gotten to the beach and decided to go for a swim to cool off.
They now laid on the beach towel on a small cliff overlooking the rest of the beach. Jonah looked over to Elliot, "I thought you would never lose the turtleneck." He teased. "Remember this is all your fault.
This is a result of your jealousy." Elliot pointed to his neck. "I kind of like these marks on you. I like to make others know what's my property." Jonah says huskily. His pupils dilated. Elliot leaned in his lips brushing against Jonah's before his phone rang. Breaking them out of that trance. "It's Clara." Elliot says. He answers the call and puts it on speaker phone. " Hi Elliot, I know you and Jonah were having fun." Clara starts "Sorry to cut that fun short though. You need to come back now if you will be in time for the party." She continues "Alright we will be there soon." Elliot says and ends the call.
***AT THE RESORT PARTY***
The resort party throbbed. Music pulsed, bodies swayed. Clara, radiant in a shimmering dress, scanned the crowd, a forced smile.
Elliot and Jonah arrived, hand in hand. Elliot’s neck was covered, but his eyes on Jonah… they told a different story. They joined Clara. "Elaine's by the pool," Clara said, voice low. "Okay," Jonah said, stomach churning. Flirting? With Elaine ? He was terrible at this. Clara patted his arm. "You've got this. Charm them." Jonah forced a smile, heading for the pool, Elliot trailing. Elaine laughed with a group.
Jonah approached, Elliot hanging back, watching. He did not like this. Something felt wrong. Jonah took a deep breath. "Elaine, right?" he began, offering his hand. "Jonah. We have not met, but I feel like I know you already." He gave her his most disarming smile, the one he usually reserved for… well, not Elaine. Elaine, a little flushed from the open bar, beamed.
"Jonah! Oh, you're… the guy on the tabloid pages with Elliot right?" "Yeah, not one of my proudest moment," Jonah said, wincing inwardly. "Anyways I'm an architect. What do you do for work?" Jonah asked. Elaine took another sip before she answered, "I'm an editor for a group of news outlets."
"So," he said, casually, "you are quite the photographer, huh? You get some interesting shots." Elaine preened. "Oh, I have my moments. I have got an eye for a story." "Especially… juicy stories?" Jonah asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
Elaine’s smile faltered for a second, then returned, a little too bright. "You could say that." "Like… say, photos of… friends… in compromising positions?" Jonah pressed, his heart pounding. Elaine took another long drink. "Look," she said, leaning closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "I can't talk about that. Confidentiality, you know?" "Come on," Jonah pleaded, trying to look genuinely interested. "Just between us. A hint. Initials, maybe?"
Elaine hesitated, then giggled. "Okay… okay… just one… V…"
"Wow, one must have an awful grudge against Elliot to do something like that." Jonah said. "Well I don't know anything about that all I know is where I see a big scoop I'll always be the first to report it. My informants are kept happy." She replied. "I mean not like he's that great of a guy." Jonah said.
Her eyes widened, " Really? Why then are you with him?" She asked. "Isn't it obvious? Why would anyone want to date a super rich guy? For money of course." Jonah answered.
"Look the guy barely knows what he wants. He has daddy issues and only does what his family tells him to." Jonah continued trying to soften her up with information. "He's also arrogant, rude and bratty." He continued while Elaine looked at him in bewilderment. "Get this, he's obsessed with organizing his spice rack alphabetically. Alphabetically! Drives me nuts." He chuckled, hoping he sounded convincing. Elaine giggled.
"Oh my god, I know the type! My ex used to color-code his socks. It's insane." She rolled her eyes, taking a sip of her drink. "So, you two been together long?"
"Too long," Jonah said with a playful grimace. He hated lying, especially about Elliot. "Just kidding… mostly. He's… complicated." "Complicated is my middle name," Elaine said, raising her glass. "Tell me about it."
They talked for what felt like hours. Jonah feigned interest in her celebrity gossip, subtly steering the conversation. "So," he said, casually. "Any new big scoop on the Sinclairs?" He asked her. She giggled her words slurring more often now.
"You are nosy but I like you." She said and pinched his nose affectionately. Jonah winced in pain and disgust. "Anyways no big scoop for now that I'm on vacation but my informant has promised even something bigger when I get back from vacation next week." She told him. Feigning awe, "Wow, that's huge. You're going to make a fortune from the Sinclair's and to be honest I want my cut." Jonah tells her. "Cut?" She asks confused.
"Yes cut. To be honest I'm tired of putting up with Elliot and I'm willing to give any insider information you need so long as I get paid handsomely for it." Jonah proposes. Elaine nodded in approval even when drunk she couldn't miss out on a good deal. "Alright then, I'll be meeting with my informant next week Wednesday. I'd like you to be there." She said as she swayed back and forth the alcohol fully taking over her body.
"We'll be meeting at..." She slumped passed out before she complete her sentence. "At where?!" Jonah screamed try to shake her awake. "Damn!!!" He screamed punching the wall.