Chapter 122. A meeting
Jackson Johnson
"Finally, the gas leak is fixed," Steve informed me, but I was distracted, constantly staring at my phone screen. I needed to know where Lilly was. "Jackson?"
"Sorry," I said, giving him my full attention. "Thanks. Could you send someone to check all the pipes? I won't open this place unless every pipe is inspected."
"Sure, no problem. How about I bring my team tomorrow?"
"Yes, that's fine. Just tell me the time, and I'll have someone here to let you in."
"I'll be here at nine without fail." We said our goodbyes, and I immediately called Richard. One ring, two rings, and finally, he answered.
"Yes, sir?" he responded from the other end.
"Do you know anything about Lilly?"
"I just confirmed her location." I felt relieved. How could she be out there with a dead phone?
"I'm done at the place. What's her last known location?" There was silence. I checked my phone, thinking the call had dropped. "Richard?"
"I just sent it to your WhatsApp."
"Alright, hold on..." I put him on speaker, opened the message, then the map, and zoomed in with my fingers, frowning in confusion. "Did you send me your location?"
"That's Miss Bradley's current location, Mr. Johnson." Richard's tone was different, almost amused by my question.
"The map shows she's... in my attic?"
"Yes, sir."
"What's she doing in my attic? Oh, she must be waiting in the lobby..." I remembered telling my manager to remove her from the authorized list, just in case Georgina made a move and found out everything was a lie.
"She's not in the lobby. Miss Bradley is waiting in the attic." I frowned.
"Did you let her in?"
"Yes, sir."
"Oh, alright, I'm heading there now. Thanks, Richard." I was about to end the call when I called him back. "Wait, wait... tell me something."
"Yes, sir?" I bit my lip, debating whether to ask him the question. "Sir?"
"Oh," I cleared my throat. "When I went to her house, her parents didn't tell me why she's looking for me. Do you know what she wants to talk to me about?" There was a brief silence.
"If you don't find out... you'll never know." A smile spread across my lips.
"Thanks, Richard."
"You're welcome, Mr. Johnson." We ended the call, and I looked at my phone screen again. I wanted to check the cameras in my attic to see what she was doing, but I stopped myself just before connecting. I took a deep breath and exhaled through my teeth.
"Come on, Jackson, one... she might be there to say 'Thank you for clearing my name,' or two, 'The storm has passed, so I'm going to London, and I'm here to say goodbye...'" Saying it out loud stirred up all my feelings. Maybe I could convince her to change her mind. I quickly shook my head. I could expand my business to London and be closer to her, in the shadows... "Stop making movies in your head and go to the attic, Jackson," I murmured as I locked the door and set the alarm for the place. I got into my Bentley, and my nerves flared up even more. What was she going to say to me?
A while later, I entered the private parking lot. I stopped hearing the engine noise of my car, and now there was only silence, sitting and staring at the white wall in front of me. "Thump, thump, thump," my heart started to race at the thought of the final encounter with Lilly. I popped a mint into my mouth and applied some of the cologne I kept in a compartment. When I finished, I took another deep breath, held it for a few seconds, and then exhaled.
"You can do it, Jackson." I got out of the car and headed to my private elevator. I entered the new passcode, and the doors closed in front of me. I watched the numbers as my fingers clutched the keychain. Moments later, it finally stopped at my penthouse. The doors opened, and then I saw her.
"You finally made it," Lilly said.
"Hi," I whispered, unable to stop staring at her. She wore tight black pants, a white blouse, and her hair was tied up in a messy bun on top of her head. She smiled the way she always did when she saw me—not a polite or courteous smile, but the one she reserved just for me. I didn’t want to step out of the elevator, afraid that Lilly would disappear in front of me. I didn’t want to lose her, and I didn’t want to be away from her. Then something hit me hard inside, a longing to be with her for the rest of my life. "I went to your house to look for you as soon as the press conference ended." I finally stepped out of the elevator. She blocked my path before I could take another step. Her brown eyes scrutinized me carefully. "I don’t know how to act now that we’re over," I confessed in a whisper. She softened her gaze.
"Answer one question." I nodded slowly.
"Why did you go to my house? Did you want to tell me something?" The nerves surfaced, and I sighed.
"Yes, I wanted to tell you that your name has been cleared and..." I stopped my words, mesmerized by her.
"And?" I looked away, then back into her expectant brown eyes.
"I wanted to see you, even if it was for the last time. I know you had decided that once your name was cleared, you would go to London." I paused. "When you saw me with Georgina, I..." She lunged at me. I barely reacted, my hands automatically wrapping around her waist. Her hands encircled my neck. I tilted my face and lowered my gaze, noticing her feet dangling. It was something I loved to see. I looked back at her. "What was that, Miss Bradley? Are you under the influence of alcohol?" She smiled, her face lighting up, her eyes fixed on my lips. "She wants me to kiss her!" I leaned in a bit to capture her lips, then brushed them slowly. "My God, I missed them." She caught mine with desperation, her legs wrapping around my waist. My hands moved to her backside, lifting her slightly. I didn’t stop kissing her. I decided to carry her to my bedroom, clumsily climbing the stairs with her. When we arrived, she broke the kiss. I noticed her reddened and swollen lips, her eyelashes fluttering.
"I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to..." we were both panting.
"Jackson," she said my name, "I love you." My fingers tightened on her backside, leaving me momentarily breathless.
"What?" I thought out loud like an idiot. "I think I didn’t hear you correctly, could you repeat that?" She smiled, withdrew her arm from my neck, and reached to open my bedroom door. She pushed the door open, and then I saw beyond her. We entered, and I looked around the room—candles, rose petals on my bed, and more candles. I looked back at her and set her down, stunned. I heard her close the door behind me, then she took my hand, and our eyes met.
"I love you, Jackson." Hearing it again stirred many emotions in my chest. I approached her and stroked her cheek with my fingers.
"I love you too, Lilly, and hearing it makes it more real." I pressed my lips together, overwhelmed with mixed feelings.
"Sweetheart, can we... give ourselves a second chance?"