Chapter 20. Distraction
Jackson Johnson
The elevator doors opened on the administrative floor. Without saying another word or even a goodbye, she left, leaving a strange discomfort within me. Then I pressed the button for the top floor. When the doors opened on my floor, my secretary looked surprised in my direction, undoubtedly because she saw me getting off the employees' elevator.
"Mr. Johnson, I thought you were going to lunch."
"I already did. Let Richard know I'll be in my private area." I crossed the double doors of my office and headed to the corner elevator, the one that would take me to my penthouse upstairs. I entered and keyed in my security code to go up. A moment later, I was entering, removing my jacket and leaving it on the back of one of the armchairs. I walked to the bathroom, washed my face and brushed my teeth, and when I came out, Richard was waiting.
"Sir, the elevator camera issue has been resolved. No one has noticed."
"Good. I need you to investigate Lilly, the new administrator. I need every detail about her," I looked in his direction. "I want to know everything."
"Yes, sir." I noticed he frowned.
"What?" He pressed his lips together. "Speak."
"You know I investigate all the staff and anyone who gets close to you. My last investigation was on Miss Bradley since she joined the company, and I've only found one piece of information, but it's nothing to worry about."
"Tell me."
"What I've discovered is that her younger sister, Leah Bradley, works as an architect with her brother, but it's just a coincidence." Richard paused briefly before continuing. "Miss Lilly comes from London with her family. They arrived in the city over a week ago because her father, Harry Bradley, got a job offer as the new chief of surgery at New York-Presbyterian Hospital."
"I took her to that hospital on our date night," I immediately recalled.
"Her father was on duty," Richard continued. "Her mother, Beatrice Parson de Bradley, is the new cardiologist at the same hospital."
I walked to the drinks cabinet and poured myself a bit of my favorite liquor.
"So, my mother had nothing to do with her working at this company?"
"Not really. It's a real coincidence that her sister works with her brother and that she joined this company."
"What was her last job in London?" I turned towards him and took a sip of my liquor.
"She was part of an administrative team at a very important company in that city."
"And what happened that she had to come all the way to the other side of the world?"
"The reason is still unknown, but the owner of the company was her father-in-law." That detail surprised me. I sat on the living room sofa and gestured for Richard to take a seat. As he did, he continued giving me information. "She was engaged to the son, and apparently, by marrying him, she would become a partner. But it didn't happen because she ended the engagement just days before the event."
"Engagement? Ring and wedding?" Richard nodded.
"From what I've been informed, only the parents were supposed to come to the United States, but in the end, they all came. They sold the house and the apartments." I leaned back in my chair, silently sipping my liquor.
"So... for the first time, my mother has nothing to do with it."
"That's right, sir."
"Good, you can go have lunch."
"Yes, sir." Richard left me alone, the images of her moaning while tasting the dessert had driven me crazy. It had caused something in me that I couldn't control for the first time—a great erection in my pants. And that shouldn't happen again. I always have to maintain control, discipline, and above all, not get distracted now that she works for my company.
The rest of the afternoon, I worked without leaving the office until past seven when I prepared to leave. I entered the elevator wondering if it was Lilly's sister that Jacob had referred to. I hoped not. The doors opened, and as I walked towards the double doors, I saw Lilly on the other side, on her cell phone. I crossed the doors and heard she was upset.
"You're crazy! You can't just call to threaten me, Oliver." She didn't notice my presence. I saw the SUV approach and stop in front of me. One of the men opened my door, but I was rooted to the spot. "No, no, did you think I would marry you after what I found out?" Her voice was loaded with much anger and pain. She ran a hand through her hair, oblivious to the traffic and people walking on the sidewalk, avoiding her. Richard circled the car, wondering why I hadn't gotten in yet, then he noticed.
"Mr. Johnson?" Richard called me, and I handed him my briefcase.
"Wait." He nodded, and I walked towards Lilly without her noticing.
"I'm not interested in getting back with you, especially not with threats." Then I took the phone from her.
"Listen carefully, idiot. Stop bothering Lilly, or I'll take one of my planes and come straight to London to give you a damn beating. And you'll remember for a long time that you shouldn't threaten a lady. She is not alone. So think carefully about what you're going to do from now on." I ended the call and handed the phone back to Lilly, who was stunned. "You're welcome." She tried to hide her smile but failed. I turned towards my SUV and walked away with a satisfied grin.
Are you a teenager, Jackson?