Chapter 31. Hidden jealousy
Lilly Bradley
Johnson Enterprises
It was Monday morning, and I was having my first cup of coffee. I had spent all of Sunday sleeping and watching several movies. My mind couldn't stop replaying the events of the weekend at Johnson's mother's birthday party. My mind was indeed cruel, more like toxic. I had my eyes fixed on the monitor, concentrating on reviewing the numbers of the latest leases, when I heard the WhatsApp message notification. I glanced quickly and saw the screen light up. It was from an unknown number, but I looked again when I saw the London area code. I grabbed my phone and opened it.
"I know you blocked me from the other number. Please unblock me. We need to talk. Oliver." I tensed up. Seeing Oliver's message again stirred something inside me. I didn't know if it was some lingering romantic feeling from all the time we spent together or a mix of hatred and disappointment.
I quickly typed a response.
"What do you want to talk about? The countless times you cheated on me?" Send. My nerves were on edge as I recalled what had happened, the way I had called off the wedding. I couldn't forget the look on Oliver's parents' faces when I exposed him in front of them.
Another message.
"I want to talk." I bit my lip, thinking about what to do. I typed a response to finally close that chapter with Oliver. I had to remind myself to move on and not stay stuck in the past.
"Fine. I'll call you at 6 PM London time." Send. My heart pounded hard. What else could he want to talk about? Then I remembered how our last call ended, with Jackson warning him to leave me alone. I let out a laugh.
"The one who laughs alone remembers their misdeeds," commented Maxine from the office doorway.
"Hi, it's nothing..." I started to say as I straightened up and put on a serious face.
"How's it going?" She walked in, still smiling, which was unusual for her.
"Good, good. I'm still working on the numbers for the new lease contracts."
"That's great," she said, placing both hands on the back of the chair and narrowing her eyes. "Nothing new?" I frowned.
"New?" I didn't understand.
"Yes, but..." She stopped mid-sentence. "Never mind. I just came by to say hi. I'll be inspecting some properties Johnson wants to acquire, so I won't be back for the rest of the day."
"Oh, okay."
"Johnson invited me to lunch after the inspections, so we both won't be in the office..."
"Fine." She still seemed strange.
"There's a restaurant near those properties that serves the best steaks..." I interrupted her.
"Sounds perfect. Enjoy your meal." I gave her a smile.
"Are you upset?" she asked, and I shook my head, widening my smile.
"Why would I be?"
"Because I'm going out with Jackson and we're having lunch together?" I frowned.
"Why should it bother me that you two are having lunch together?" I did feel a twinge of discomfort that they were going out, but why should I care?
"Alright," she cleared her throat. "See you tomorrow." She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Are you going out for lunch?"
"No, but I have to make a call to London, so I'll take my lunch break to call." I didn't understand why I was telling her that.
"To London? To your boyfriend?" she smiled playfully.
"Yes, well, he's my ex-fiancé. He asked to talk, so I'll see where it goes since we're far apart and all that..." I put on my best smile to hide my discomfort.
"Okay, okay, I'm leaving. See you tomorrow." She waved her hand in the air and disappeared. My smile faded into a straight line.
"'Johnson invited me to lunch after the inspections, so we both won't be in the office...'" I mimicked her comment. "'There's a restaurant near those properties that serves the best steaks...'" I finished imitating her and let out a snort. "Did she come to brag about having lunch with him? According to the liar, he usually eats alone." I grumbled under my breath as I turned back to my computer screen and focused on finishing my work.
Ten minutes to one in the afternoon, and my stomach was in knots. I didn't know what Oliver wanted to talk about. What more could be discussed in a breakup when everything had already been said? It would be absurd if he told me he was pregnant just to get me back. I covered my mouth with my hand to stifle a laugh at my thought. I stood up and grabbed my bag. I planned to walk to Central Park and sit on a bench to make the call. I checked the time; there were five minutes left. As I was about to leave, I stopped abruptly, gasping in surprise at the tall, intimidating figure of Jackson in the doorway.
"You scared me," I murmured. He seemed upset; I deduced it from his furrowed brow and the tight line of his lips. "Do you need something?"
"Yes," he cleared his throat and looked away for a moment, then looked at me again. "I know it's your lunch break, but there's an emergency meeting." I raised my eyebrows.
"What time?"
"Now." He responded with an authoritative tone.
"Now, now?" That would mean not talking to Oliver or having lunch.
"Yes, 'now, now.' Do you have something more important to do?" His question surprised me.
"Well, it's my lunch break, and I didn't have breakfast. So, it's fair to say I'm hungry."
"Is that all? Just lunch?" I didn't understand what he meant.
"Yes. And I wanted to make a private call, but I'll wait until later. Do you need me to bring anything?" Jackson's face showed coldness, his jaw tense, and I didn't like it. "Do you need me to bring anything?" He snapped out of his trance.
"Where?"
"To the emergency meeting..." He nodded, looking a bit lost. "Mr. Johnson, are you okay?" He looked at me with annoyance.
"Now, in the conference room on the top floor, bring the latest lease contracts." I nodded, looking for them. When I had them in my hand, I looked up, and he had disappeared.