Chapter 100. Gifts
Jackson Johnson
Richard had informed me of every detail about the Paige situation. It had pissed me off quite a bit, but he assured me he had everything under control, and I appreciated it. I had fired Efray days ago, and now another one, but with a higher rank in my company, had surfaced. So, I questioned whether I had chosen well, but another thought emerged: "Was I being too obvious with Lilly?" I refused to believe it; she had no privileges and was on par with all the employees on her floor. Outside the company, we could do whatever we wanted...
"Sir, they've confirmed the appointment with Mrs. Windsor," my secretary announced after organizing tomorrow's schedule.
"Good, let Richard know to have the car ready in ten minutes."
"Yes, sir. Will that be all?"
"Yes, thank you, Grace. Have a good night."
"You too, Mr. Johnson." She then left, leaving me alone in my office. I closed the list of properties I had studied throughout the afternoon to make several purchases. Once finished, I gathered everything and went for my jacket.
I waited in the armored SUV parked in the company's underground garage. Lilly was walking towards us. Richard opened the door for her, and she got in.
"Hi," she greeted. I responded with a kiss, surprising her.
"Ready?" She nodded with a smile.
"Where are we having dinner?" she asked curiously.
"Weren't you going to look at a dress?" She raised her eyebrows.
"Are you coming with me?"
"Of course. Don't you want me to?"
"No, it's not that. I just didn't think you'd remember I was going for a dress today." I took her hand and caressed her knuckles.
"Anything that has to do with you interests me." She smiled, and I gave the order to head to the address I had provided before Lilly got in. The car began to leave the company's parking lot. As we entered traffic, I gently pulled her closer to my side. "I hope you can stay out late tonight..." She pulled back a bit to look at me.
"Why?" she asked curiously.
"We'll go see a dress, then make a stop somewhere, and from there, we'll have dinner."
"Oh," she looked at the watch on her wrist. "It's still early..." She leaned back against my side. My arm was around her, and I rested my chin on her head for a moment, inhaling her scent.
After nearly fifteen minutes of navigating through New York traffic, we arrived at the Windsor fashion house. The owner was a family friend, specifically my mother's, as Mrs. Windsor had dressed my mother for gala events for many years. We got out, and I interlaced my hand with Lilly's. We entered the building, and one of the owner's assistants was waiting for us.
"Good evening, Mr. Johnson. Mrs. Windsor is expecting you in the salon." I thanked her, and we followed her to a spacious area filled with racks of elegant, shiny evening dresses. The owner, named Edwin, smiled upon seeing us, but I also noticed her eyebrows briefly raised when she saw me holding hands with a woman at my side.
"Little Jackson! It's been so long since I've seen you! Look at you, all grown up and handsome, quite the important and sought-after businessman..." I let go of Lilly's hand to accept her hug. As we separated, I introduced her to Lilly, who praised her beauty and British accent. They talked for a moment about the most beautiful places she had visited the last time she was in England. "You have to see the dresses I've just made, come, Lilly, you have to see them." Edwin motioned for me to take a seat on a cream-colored Victorian-style sofa. I typed a message to my mother, thanking her for getting an appointment with her friend, and received an immediate response.
"Let her choose the one she loves the most, I'll pay for it," but I refused. I would pay for it since she was my girlfriend. Thinking about it, I smiled like a fool, knowing my mother would find out I had jumped ahead of my plan. I then let out a long sigh. We spent almost an hour choosing a dress until we found the right one, including the accessories. Lilly was so happy that it was contagious, but she had argued a bit when I insisted on paying. In the end, she reluctantly agreed.
We continued on to our first stop before heading to the restaurant for dinner. When we got out, the excitement of the dress was still evident on her face.
"Where are we?" she asked, curious and eyeing the building.
"It's a surprise." I extended my hand for her to take, and she did, as I guided her inside the building.
"Good evening, Mr. Johnson," an employee announced. "Everything is ready as you requested."
"Thank you," I looked at Lilly. "Sweetheart, this is Henry, the building manager."
"Oh, nice to meet you," Henry extended his hand politely.
"Likewise, Miss..."
"Bradley."
"Miss Bradley." He smiled. "Are you ready?" I noticed Lilly's furrowed brow at the question.
"Yes, ready." I stepped forward, following Henry to the elevator. He entered last to press the floor button, and the doors closed in front of us. We went up to the twentieth floor, and when the steel doors opened, we stepped into the hallway. He walked a few steps ahead to open the door, and Lilly stopped me for a moment.
"Where are we?" she asked, intrigued.
"It's a surprise." I smiled at her.
"Does someone live here? A friend?"
"Come on, find out for yourself." I kissed her forehead before moving forward to Henry, who had the door open and was waiting for us to enter. Once inside, Lilly was beside me. The place was immaculate, with a foyer and a coat room. We walked further, and I heard Lilly's gasp of surprise.
"Whose place is this?" she whispered, but I heard her perfectly. I was about to answer when Henry spoke first.
"The place has plenty of light," Henry began, "It has three furnished bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, an equipped kitchen with all the basic appliances, a fourth room that can be an office, and this living room with a mounted TV and a terrace."
"The apartment is very nice," Lilly said.
"Do you like it?" I asked, and she nodded slowly, looking around the rest of the place.
"It's very beautiful." She turned to me. "Whose is it?"
I raised my hand for Henry to give me the security card. When he handed it to me, I extended it to Lilly. She didn't understand, and words weren't necessary. My smile was enough. She slowly began to understand what I meant.
"It's my second gift to you as my girlfriend... your own apartment."