Chapter 71. An impeachment
Jackson Johnson
I couldn't believe what I had just heard. Maxima was involved with Arya, and suddenly everything made sense. How could I have someone working by my side who was betraying me? My mother was right; you never truly know someone, even after many years. Lilly gestured for me to sit next to her.
"Come here," she whispered. I walked over and sat down next to her. She took my hand and caressed it. "I'm sorry for your disappointment."
"I still don't understand how Maxima could betray me like that." It really hit me hard, what she did. There was a long silence. I let go of Lilly's hand and gently pulled her arm so she could lean against me. She settled in, her cheek against my chest and her hand on my stomach. I wrapped my arm around her, kissed her hair, and then got lost in my thoughts.
"What are you planning to do?" Lilly asked in a low tone.
"Remove her from her position immediately," I confessed. "I can't keep working with someone like that."
"Will you tell her about the recording?"
"Since they didn't realize you were in the service, she'll think it's just anyone."
"What if she checks the cameras?" she asked, alarmed.
"No one can access any of that without my authorization."
"I'm still shocked by what she did."
"Have you had lunch with her?" I noticed how she tensed, reaching for her phone and pressing a button. Maxima and Lilly's voices came through. I closed my eyes and shook my head. The conversation at the restaurant finally ended. "Send those two files to my email, please." I did it in less than a minute, and I heard the email notification tone in the distance. Then we stayed in total silence, hugging on the couch.
"Changing the subject, I know you might not be in the right headspace for what I'm about to say..." Lilly hesitated to continue speaking.
"Sweetheart, go ahead, don't hesitate to tell me anything." She moved her head against my side, adjusted herself to look at me.
"Our third date." I smiled.
"That's one of my favorite topics. Go on." She smiled widely.
"Can it be tomorrow?" I raised my eyebrows in surprise, quickly going over my schedule for the day.
"Yes, it can be tomorrow," I winked at her, and she smiled even more. "What are you planning now, Miss Bradley?"
"I want to take you to a place I've never been to in my life. And that's all I'll say." I caressed her cheek with my fingers, seeing the excitement in her brown eyes.
"Can I ask you a question?" She nodded, caressing my hand as she lowered it to her lap. "Are you enjoying these dates?"
"Yes, very much," there was no doubt in her response. "Why? Do you think I'm not having fun?"
"Well, I was just curious. The whole Arya thing overshadowed part of our second date outside the movie theater..."
"I loved our second date, Jackson. Let's just keep everything except her."
"Perfect," I replied, then sighed, noticing she had gone quiet for a moment. "Is something wrong?" Her eyes immediately searched for mine.
"No, no, it's time for me to go."
"I'll take you," I was about to get up, but she shook her head, placing her hand on my chest.
"I can go on my own," she said with a smile.
"I want to take you. The whole thing with Arya has me on edge." Lilly softened her gaze.
"I'll be fine. We need to avoid getting photographed together and..." She stopped, and hearing her say that irritated me in seconds.
"What? Are you embarrassed to be seen with me?" She pressed her lips tightly, clearly annoyed by my questions.
"It's not that. I just don't want them to have more material to sell to the magazine."
"I don't care. I want to take you. And I will," she smiled.
"Fine, if you don't care, neither do I."
"But before we go, I want a kiss." Lilly nodded and moved closer to me. Our lips met, and our tongues danced. The heat and intensity of the kiss increased, and I had to end it or I wouldn't stop. "By the way, I'd like to do something together at lunchtime." She frowned.
"Do something?" I nodded.
"It's nothing sexual, pervert," I laughed.
"I'm not a pervert," she said, leaving a kiss on my lips. "Fine. Aren't you going to tell me what we're doing?"
"I want to take you to a new place for lunch."
"Perfect. Will you let me pay this time?" she asked. I pretended to think, and she playfully hit my arm. I laughed.
"Fine, we'll see at lunch."
I dropped Lilly off at her house. We had talked about trivial things on the way, this time we used the Bentley. I returned to the company because I wanted to make sure of something since the devil never sleeps. I parked in the underground garage and took my private elevator up to the security room. The security staff was outside the room.
"Mr. Johnson," the men greeted me. I returned the greeting and entered the camera room. Richard was reviewing footage.
"Have you found anything?" I asked, sitting beside him.
"Yes, sir. Here is the camera that recorded Miss Bradley entering the restroom, and then from here..." he showed me an image; it was Maxima. She hadn't noticed that Lilly had entered the restroom because she was on another floor. "And here when she leaves. Miss Bradley took her time to avoid running into Mrs. Maxima."
"Good, then we can rule out that Maxima did it on purpose, talking while Lilly was hidden inside."
"Yes, ruled out. I even checked all the cameras from that time to see if any employee informed Mrs. Maxima. But there's nothing strange. Everything is normal."
"Also ruled out," I whispered, still looking at the images on the screens.
"What do you want to do, sir?" I crossed my arms and turned my face to him.
"I have enough evidence that Maxima needs to be dismissed immediately. I can't have traitors working for me."
"Indeed, sir." He paused when I turned my gaze back to the screens. "I have what you asked for. Young Chester and his sister are still at the hotel, no changes in their return flights, they still have an open ticket with no return date."
"Good, he's still here. I don't know what he's waiting for with Lilly."
"That's another piece of information that just came in..." I turned my face to him with intrigue. "The young man will try to convince Miss Bradley to return to London since the wedding hasn't been officially canceled."
I opened my eyes in surprise at what Richard had said.
"What?" I said immediately.
"The Chester family in London hopes the young man will return with Miss Bradley. If they marry, he will become a partner in the companies. The man seems ambitious. The strange thing is that he hasn't been around Miss Bradley since their last altercation on the street. But if he hasn't left the country, he will insist sooner or later."
"That's impossible. She has no intention of getting back with him after his betrayal. Besides, she's with me!" Richard raised an eyebrow at my outburst. "Sorry, I got carried away..." I turned my gaze back to the screens. "He's crazy if he thinks I'm going to step aside for him to get to her."