Jealous

Jealous
The following day, Elizabeth invited Dave to dinner just as she had promised.

"You remember Black from 9th grade? I ran into him at Walmart last week" Dave and Eliza were reminiscing their childhood memories.

"Really? I never think he'd come into town after what happened with his father"

"Yes Tragic. His whole family disappeared after the event" David confirmed.

Black Thompson and his family went into ruin after his father was executed for embezzlement. Being a government official it was very bad. His mother and sister had the worst hit. No one knows where they are till now–and Blake being the only male child had to go into hiding.

"He paid off his father's debt and cleared their name," Elizabeth added. She had overheard her father and Mr Tulliver discuss it one after another in his study. She didn't mean to eavesdrop but when she heard Blake's name, her feet stayed glued to the floor.

Jack cleared his throat behind them and they both laughed. For a moment, Elizabeth and Dave had forgotten he was in the room with them.

"Do you mind if I borrow Dave for a minute? We have unfinished business" Elizabeth excused herself to her room, she has a lot to finish anyway.

"It's been awhile since we are like this" Jack was the first to talk, he now has a cup of whiskey in his hand. He took a sip before he continued.

"Do you remember how we became friends? What made me like you?" Jack is now a little intimidating. He hadn't planned to, he only needed to get things straight and set some things right..

"You are one of those few people who like me for who I am and not for my money. You became my friend before you know who I am" his voice is low, barely audible above a whisper.

David could sense where Jack is going. He's jealous but he's not going to admit it.

"What do you want?" Dave asked. He had an idea what Jack was about to say but he's not going to push it until he confirms it himself.

"You know how much Elizabeth meant to me, after what happened with Chloe. She will be my first after that– I don't know how it happened but I love her" he paused yet again. "I understand you go way back but she's mine and I'll appreciate your Respect that. "

"Got it," Dave nodded silently. He wasn't thinking when he went to Elizabeth that day. He knows who Jacknhis is and how his affluence can easily get him anything he wants even if he's just here for the time being. Not even his father's name can save him.

"Good" Jack took a sip of his wine again. They had a little discussion before Elizabeth joined them and after a while they waved Dave goodbye before deciding to call it a night.

"You have a visitor," Clara, Jack's secretary, informed him. He has been working without break for five hours, he needed to complete a couple of things before he go to UK. That his mother had called in saying his father's condition had worsened and he needed to be home immediately.

He kept a couple of things away from Elizabeth. Like the lady his father had him betrothed to. Who his father is and what type of family he came from.

"Mr Walters?" Clara's voice resounded through the intercom system once again. Jack was deep in thought and had forgotten himself for a minute.

"Let him in," he said finally before ending the call.

A man in his early forties came in through the door. He was dressed in a black shirt and a black polo. The lines of wrinkles on his forehead were visible. He bowed his head a little as he saw Jack.

"Mr Walters" he greeted and Jack offered him a seat.

"Thank you for coming Rapheal" Jack said after he had sat down. Rapheal was the private investigator he hired to look into the pregnancy scandal that happened last week. He was sure it is not one of his rivals.. he is sure what they can do and causing a romantic scandal is not one of them. So he decided to look into the matter himself discreetly without the knowledge of Elizabeth.

"It's my pleasure, Mr Walters. I am honored you trusted me" Rapheal is an old acquaintance of Jack, he was one of his father's employees whom he can trust to do this.

"What have you found?" Jack leaned forward texting his arms on the table.

"I found the person who shared the fliers. He was hired by someone else. What's more amusing is that it is someone closer go Elizabeth"

Jack gritted his teeth and felt his hand clenched into a fist on their own accord. "I don't care who they are, as long as they mean to arm Elizabeth, you should bring them to me"

"I don't have the name but I have a picture" Raphal hesitated. He had never seen Jack this angry before and the only time he saw something close was when his sister was kidnapped.

"Let me see" his voice was stern and his eyes were purging fire as if ready to attack. He fished out a picture of Karenfrom his bag and handed it over to Jack. He watched as surprise envelope his face when he saw who the figure in the picture was.

"Do you know her?" Rapheal asked.

"Met her a couple of times, I can tell she's up to no good" he voice was gruff.

"Who is she?" Rapheal inquired.

"Karen– Elizabeth's best friend"

Rapheal was also taken aback by this revelation. He wondered what could have happened between the young ladies to make the other spread such a fake rumor.

"What are you going to do Jack?" Jack stood up and rolled down the sleeves of his shirt.

"I don't care who she is or what she is to Elizabeth. Go on with the plan" he said with finality. He had vowed that no matter who it is, even Dave or anyone, he will have to deal with them.

Rapheal was concerned Jack might regret his actions later on and was acting based on his feelings now.

"Why don't you reveal who she is to Elizabeth instead of
getting involved." He suggested.

"How?"

"We make her the hunting dog"