Chapter 70. A recording
Lilly Bradley
I arrived at the company with a racing heart, feeling both angry and disappointed with Maxima. They say you never truly know people. But why that low blow to Jackson? Why did she want to lead the conglomerate? Why was ambition taking over? I quickly shook my head as I headed to the employee elevator. I glanced at the private one that would take me directly to Jackson's floor, debated for a moment, but remembered there was a code to make it move. I typed a message to Jackson:
"Where are you? I need to talk to you urgently." His response didn't come, so I went back to reception to use the phone and call his office directly.
"Is Mr. Johnson in the company?" The woman who always gave me dirty looks pressed her botox-filled lips together.
"I don't know." Then she turned back to her desk. I called the president's extension and heard the receptionist's voice, but I didn't answer and looked in her direction, she did the same. "It's lunchtime. Everything goes to this line temporarily. You seem new..." She made an annoyed gesture then hung up. I searched for my cell phone and called him, but it went straight to voicemail.
"Where are you, Jackson?" So I took the elevator and decided to wait in his office to talk to him. We hadn't spoken all morning, I knew he was dealing with the article, or at least that's what I wanted to think. Lunch hour ended and I still hadn't received a response from Jackson. Time dragged on as I waited for him. I was about to go directly to speak with his secretary when Maxima appeared in my doorway.
"I want to apologize for..." I shook my head.
"It's fine." I paused briefly. "Have you spoken to Mr. Johnson?" She seemed surprised by my question.
"No. He must be busy." Her tone in those last words unsettled me. "Maybe he..." She stopped mid-sentence. "I think you should know about the article published in a famous magazine," Maxima said.
"I've read some of it."
"He must be...busy." She hid a smile and then left my office. My stomach was in knots. Seeing Maxima annoyed me. It would be best to focus on my work. During the next few hours, my patience wore thin not knowing anything about him. It was already seven in the evening. Everyone had left half an hour ago, and Jackson still hadn't seen my message, and his cell phone was still going to voicemail. His secretary hadn't given any information since she wasn't allowed to disclose anything. Then I thought: Could something have happened? Was he with Arya at her hotel? Just imagining it made my blood boil. How could I get so worked up over something I didn't know?
"Oh my God..." I said out loud, standing up impatiently and anxiously.
"Your God..." said a male voice. When I looked up, it was Jackson. I felt a great relief seeing him standing there in my doorway, unbothered and amused by my previous words. He noticed my reaction and that I didn't say anything. "What happened? I saw your message and..." I quickly walked towards him. I didn't care if anyone saw us at that moment. I automatically slid my hands under his jacket and wrapped them around his waist, my cheek against his chest. I listened to his heartbeat, which slowly started to quicken. "What's wrong, Lilly?" he insisted, but I just wanted to stay like that for a moment, and he understood. He stroked my back, and I gradually calmed down. Finally, I pulled back a bit and moved my face to look at him.
"I know it's none of my business, but I've been trying to reach you since lunch," Jackson tensed. "What happened? Is it about the article?" He sighed as he rested his arms on my shoulders, looked at the ceiling of my office, and then shifted his gaze to me.
"I like that you care about what I do. So relax." He sighed, leaving a kiss on my forehead. "I was with my lawyer." He paused, and I could see the annoyance in his eyes. "The article is something Arya did. I went to the magazine, filed a lawsuit, and they didn't want any trouble, so they fired the author of that column."
"What?" I sounded surprised.
"Yes, she was Arya's cousin. She took the photos, sold them to the magazine, and got the front page, but everything has its consequence. It's settled now. This morning, a restraining order was issued to keep Arya away from anyone in my circle." His jaw tensed. "And that includes you and your family." I raised my eyebrows in surprise.
"Me and my family?" He nodded.
"It seems you've done your homework. You've obtained information that I can't explain how it got into your hands. Everything I do, you know. I hope this restriction keeps you completely away."
"We need to talk," I said, sure of my words.
"Yes, that's why I came. And of course, I wanted to see you, but... What's going on?"
"I need a place where we can talk. Somewhere no one will interrupt us." He smiled. "Not in the Hamptons, you pervert..." His smile faded.
"Come, I know a place where no one will bother us without leaving the building." I frowned.
"Where?" He didn't say anything, just looked around. The administration floor was now empty.
"Grab your things." I did and followed him to a private elevator. I entered before him, and the doors closed in front of us. He inserted a tiny key into a hole I hadn't noticed an elevator would have, turned it, and typed a code. The elevator started moving as Jackson removed the key and lowered the small steel panel that covered the keyhole. He looked at me and smiled. Moments later, the elevator stopped, the doors opened, and I stood there, mouth agape. "Welcome to my private place in the building." It was just as large and spacious as his office, but it seemed the entire floor was an apartment.
"It's beautiful," I said, stepping out of the elevator. Jackson took my hand and gently pulled me into the foyer.
"Thanks. Come, have a seat. Do you want something to drink?" I sat on one of the minimalist sofas and looked in his direction. He was standing behind a counter that appeared to be a discreet bar.
"Just water." He nodded, searched in a bookshelf-shaped fridge, "Wow, who would have thought there could be more than just books," I thought. He approached, served himself a glass of whiskey, and then sat across from me in an individual chair.
"Alright, so what do you want to talk about, Lilly?" I tensed, holding the water bottle, maybe squeezing it a bit from nerves. "You're worrying me," he said suddenly. I looked up at him but didn't know how to bring up Maxima. "Lilly?"
"I think I know how Arya got the information about what you do." He raised an eyebrow, then frowned, his eyes fixed on me.
"What? How would you know that?" he asked in a tone filled with coldness. I took a breath and exhaled slowly through my teeth. My eyes stayed on his.
"I don't know how you'll take it, but I'm sure it won't be well." He stood up abruptly.
"Lilly, speak." I could see the anger starting to build in him.
"I was in the restroom, and I heard something that..."
"Is it an employee of the company?" he asked quickly. I nodded.
"It's... Maxima." I could see his face transform, he fell back into his chair and blinked several times as if what I said was truly impossible.
"What?" he asked suddenly. "Do you have proof?"
"Yes," I replied confidently.
"If you only heard her conspiring, that won't count if I confront her. She'll think you're against her and..." he was annoyed.
"I have a recording of that conversation." His eyes widened more than usual. I even think he stopped breathing for a moment. "She had come to my office to invite me to lunch. Before she came for me, I went to the restroom to touch up. I went into a stall, and then she entered, locking the stall. She had someone on speakerphone. She said she was going to make sure no one was in the bathroom, so I automatically lifted my feet and put my phone on silent. I don't know why I dared to record it, but it was something I did as soon as I recognized the voice of the woman on the other end of the line..."
"Was it... Arya?" I slowly nodded.
I took out my phone and searched for the file, hit play, and placed it on the glass table between us. Maxima's and Arya's voices were quite clear. Jackson started listening. When they mentioned me, he stood up and moved away but kept listening. He was dismayed, disappointed, and very, very angry. I could tell by the vein in his neck and temple. When it ended, he had his hands on his waist, head down. When he lifted it, he exhaled and sighed.
"What a disappointment," he whispered.