Chapter 88. A bad day
Lilly Bradley
I stormed into my office like a tornado, hung up my things, and then sat down in my chair. I turned on the computer, and while the system was booting up, I went over the words I had spat at Michelle. This was the last straw. How dare they move in across from my parents? Anger took over me. I had to talk to Oliver and make it clear that this had to stop.
"Miss Bradley?" I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard someone calling me. It was Richard standing in the doorway.
"Oh, Richard, I didn't hear you come in..."
"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt."
"You're not. What is it?"
"I have a message from Mr. Johnson." I frowned.
"A message?" He nodded. "But he could have told me directly. Why make you come?"
"I'm just following orders..." He barely stretched his lips into a smile.
"Sure, go ahead." I got up from my chair to approach him.
"Mr. Johnson will be out for the rest of the day. He has a very personal matter to attend to and won't be carrying his phone." I became alarmed.
"Is something wrong? Is he okay?" I asked quickly. Richard tensed up.
"I can only tell you that, Miss Bradley." Then I remembered last night.
"Has someone... passed away?" Richard's eyes widened slightly at my question.
"How do you know?" He was clearly tense.
"I noticed he was quite serious hours ago." Richard remained silent, so I deduced he wouldn't tell me anything else.
"If anything," he pulled out a card from inside his jacket, "send a message to this number. I'll let Mr. Johnson know anything important." I took it and remembered something.
"And the family dinner? Is it still on?" He nodded.
"Yes, the driver will pick you up at eight."
"Good, thank you." So I would see him tonight. There was a feeling in my chest that I couldn't describe. "Thank you, Richard."
"Do you want me to tell him anything? I'll see him shortly outside the company..." I sighed and nodded.
"Just take good care of him." He softened his gaze and nodded before leaving. Doubts assailed me. Who had died? A friend? Because if the dinner was still on, it wasn't a family member. The pressure in my chest grew stronger. "How I wish I could be by your side to comfort you right now..."
The day felt endless. I was already waiting for the time to arrive at the dinner and see Jackson. The driver had picked me up exactly at eight. During the drive to the Johnsons' house, I looked at my phone screen, hoping to read a message from him, but nothing. Was he okay?
"Miss Bradley, we've arrived," the driver announced.
"Thank you," a man opened my door, and I thanked him. Richard approached and showed a face I didn't like at all.
"Good evening, Miss Bradley."
"Good evening, Richard."
"I'm sorry to inform you that Mr. Jackson won't be able to attend the dinner, but Mrs. Johnson is eager to receive you and..."
"Has something happened? Where is Jackson?"
"Nothing has happened. Mr. Johnson is at his house in the Hamptons."
"Why didn't he call me? That way, he wouldn't have sent his driver for me." I was confused.
"It was last minute and..." Richard tried to explain.
"It's okay. It's okay. Don't tell me anything, just..." I felt strange and didn't want to enter his parents' house without him. I was upset, frustrated by not having direct communication with him, and I had that feeling I couldn't explain. I looked at Richard, who seemed to be waiting for a response from me. "I'll walk." His eyes widened.
"There's no need for you to walk. If you don't want to go to the dinner, I can tell the driver to..." I interrupted him.
"No." I said sharply in a loud tone, but I didn't need to take it out on Richard. "I'm sorry. I know you're doing your job, but believe me, I need to walk right now. Alone. Tell your boss that at the very least, he should have the decency to tell me directly that he wouldn't come." He nodded, but I could see his concern. "I'll call for a car on the way. Good night, Richard." I turned to walk toward the exit. I let out a huff of frustration. The security man guarding the entrance politely opened the individual door to let me through. I walked the long stretch that would take me to the main street. I was angry, but inside I kept telling myself that Jackson probably needed time, and I had to understand, but... Why not talk to me? What about all that talk about communication being essential? "Nonsense." I kept walking until I reached the traffic, called for a car to take me home. I wanted to walk more, but my high heels would leave me with blisters. As I got into the car, my phone started vibrating. I looked at the screen, and it was a call from Jackson. I slid the red button to cancel the call, then turned it off.
It was better to talk another day. Not today...