Chapter 119. A confession
Jackson Johnson
She didn't turn her face toward me, got into the taxi, and disappeared from my sight. I swallowed with difficulty, feeling the pain of everything I had said to push her away and protect her at the same time if I wanted my plan to work. I quickly composed myself and headed to the reception.
"Who allowed Miss Bradley to come up?" The man tensed.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Johnson. It was me when she mentioned she was going to surprise you. I know she's one of the visitors who doesn't need authorization..." I interrupted him.
"Update the list. She's no longer allowed from this moment on. If she comes back... call first."
"Yes, Mr. Johnson." I headed to the elevator, pressed the button, and waited in silence until I arrived. I didn't want to raise any suspicions. The doors opened, and Richard appeared, looking worried.
"Has something happened, sir?" I shook my head and approached him so Georgina wouldn't see or hear us.
"She left very upset. Please make sure she's watched, and send a message to Jacob informing him of what happened so he can keep Leah informed." He nodded. "The last thing I want is for her to get stressed and relapse." I sighed and remembered Georgina. "Leave us alone, please."
"Yes, sir." Richard entered the elevator and disappeared. I loosened my tie.
"Let the show go on..." I whispered as I pulled the tie to wrap it around my hand. Georgina was standing in front of the fireplace. "I'm back," I announced. She turned to me and smiled.
"What took you so long?" I frowned and looked at my watch.
"It's only been a few minutes. I can't make the elevator travel faster than it already does." She pouted with her full, luscious lips.
"I'm sorry, but I feel so uneasy just knowing she's still around you."
"She's no longer a problem, Georgina." I approached to take the wine glass and took a long sip until I finished what was left. "Do you want more wine?" She nodded.
"It seems like you want to get me drunk..." she joked, approaching to hand me her nearly empty glass.
"What makes you think that?" I was the one who wanted to numb myself with wine to endure her presence and what I had to do. "I want you... conscious." I smiled like an idiot as I picked up the glasses to go to the kitchen to pour more wine, but I tensed when I heard her heels following me. I entered the kitchen and placed the glasses on the island. She came in a moment later.
"I want to know something," I looked for the wine in the cooler. "Why did you kiss me in front of Lilly?" I started pouring the wine slowly. When I filled one glass, I looked at her.
"Because I felt like it, and with that, I made it clear to her that you're in my life now." She widened her eyes, surprised by my words. I could even see satisfaction in her gaze.
"Wow, I loved that you did that." I extended the glass to her, but she didn't take it. She walked around the island and stood in front of me. "Don't you want wine?" She nodded, took the glass, and took a sip without taking her eyes off me. When she finished, she smiled.
"It's about time you noticed me, Jackson. How long have we known each other? Years."
"I know, I know," I said. "What matters is that I've realized you're the one who suits me. You're beautiful, intelligent, brilliant. You have the same level as I do. Our families are wealthy. We have everything and more if..." I stopped my words. She moved closer.
"‘But if...?’ Come on, finish..." I could see how the ring in her eyes dilated.
"If we get somewhere in the future..."
"You mean something like... marriage?" I tried to show that was the idea.
"Yes, let's say marriage. Can you imagine?"
"We'd be the best couple." She took another sip of her wine. I put the bottle back to keep it chilling, guided her to the living room, but she stopped before we got there and turned to me, still holding her glass. "I want a marriage with you," she said suddenly, anxiously.
"First, let's have our first date," I said with a half-smile.
"Second. We've already had our first..." I nodded slowly.
"Alright then..." I raised my hand to clink glasses with her. "Let's toast to the future."
"Does that mean yes?" She moved closer to me, crossing that line only Lilly had crossed in years. I had to let her do it, even if it wasn't real. "Yes to marriage?"
"Yes, but with one condition..." She furrowed her brow.
"Tell me what..." I moved closer to her to leave a kiss at the corners of her lips. I heard her sigh as I straightened up.
"I want you to help me find out who was Lilly's accomplice in the embezzlement," she widened her eyes a bit, then recovered.
"Why would you ask me for help?" she asked before taking a long sip from her glass.
"You might have more resources than I do to find the person who helped with the embezzlement. I need to get rid of everyone who isn't loyal to me. I hate lies, and you know that." She looked at me.
"I could do it..." she smiled, then her hand started to slide up my jacket, her fingers playing with the fabric.
"Then if you help me find the name of the accomplice..." I paused dramatically. "I'll ask for your hand immediately." I could see the excitement in her eyes. "As long as you help me find the person." She stepped back and started to move away from me, finished her glass in one gulp, and placed it on the living room table. Without looking at me, she walked to the fireplace. "Is something wrong?" She shook her head without looking at me. I approached and sat in the single chair next to her. "So? Do you accept?"
"What would you think if I told you I've been investigating since I found out to help you find the person?" Honestly, I wasn't surprised. My instinct and gut feeling weren't wrong. She turned slowly towards me.
"What would I think?" I feigned my question. "I'd think you care about me, that you're concerned about me, and I might even say you love me enough to do something like that..." She showed emotion, but it disappeared as quickly as it came. "Does that mean... you knew it was... Lilly?" She visibly tensed.
"Well, I told you a woman could be very ambitious, remember?" I furrowed my brow.
"But the embezzlement hadn't happened yet." She paled.
"I mean, her ambition was noticeable."
"Oh, I hadn't noticed."
"I did. I've met a lot of people."
"Then..."
"I have a name," she said quickly, coming closer to me. She circled the chair to stand behind me, her hands sliding over my shoulders.
"I want to know if that information is real, that you're not being scammed..." I said, narrowing my eyes.
"I know, I've been investigating it for a long time." I raised an eyebrow; I needed more information, so I lifted my hands and caressed hers on my shoulders.
"Give me the name then." She leaned in until I felt her breath against my ear.
"Erick Paige."