Chapter 32. Ambush
Moments ago...
"Sure, we can meet at the last bar you invited me to," I replied to Jacob on the other end of the line, just as there was a knock on the door. "I'll text you later," I finished the call and announced that they could come in. The door opened, and Máxima appeared, her purse hanging from her shoulder and her coat folded over her arm.
"Am I interrupting?" she asked. I shook my head, signaling that she could come in.
"Are you going out?" I asked curiously. She entered, closing the door behind her, and approached the two chairs in front of my desk.
"I'm going to check out the properties we discussed in the meeting earlier."
"Oh, so you're sure you can go alone?"
"Of course, that reminds me of the steakhouse. I'll have lunch there while I handle everything."
"Alright, be careful." She made a face. "What's wrong? If you need to take someone from your team, you can."
"I wanted to take Lilly so she could see how we work outside the office." Máxima twisted her lip.
"But...?" I encouraged her to continue.
"She seems busy, and she made a comment," I raised an intrigued eyebrow. "She said she was looking forward to lunch because she had a long-distance call to make." That irritated me.
"Well, it could be a friend..." I didn't want to speak, but my mouth was faster.
"It's not a friend. She mentioned it herself; apparently, it's a boyfriend." My irritation grew.
"She doesn't have a boyfriend." Máxima raised an eyebrow.
"How do you know?" she asked, very intrigued.
"I just know, and from her. I didn't make it up. I don't remember when or why it came up, but anyway," I tensed, but my annoyance was stronger. "Calm down, Jackson, breathe." "So, she's looking forward to lunch," I muttered under my breath, looking at the things on my desk, trying to avoid Máxima's gaze.
"I'll go alone. See you tomorrow," she finally said.
"Perfect. Call me with any details about the property." I watched as she waved goodbye and headed to the door. After she left, I grabbed the paperweight and threw it across the desk. My stomach was in knots, and that pissed me off. I don't act this way; I'm a man who doesn't care about what others do with their lives... or their lunch hour. I clenched my teeth until I felt pain and stopped. I looked at the clock; it was almost one in the afternoon. "What's wrong with you, Johnson?" I bit my lip and looked at the clock again. I picked up the desk phone and called each department head to deliver the latest report. Minutes later, each one paraded into my office to hand over the printed reports. I was going to call Lilly to do the same, but at the last moment, I decided to do it myself. I arrived at her floor and crossed the offices until I saw her. She was getting ready to leave. "Oh, no, Miss Bradley." I reached the doorframe and stood there without announcing myself until she jumped with a surprised gasp.
"You scared me," she murmured, pressing her lips together. "Do you need something?" she asked, probably puzzled by my visit.
"Yes," I cleared my throat and saw that she had gathered her things. Her brown eyes waited for me to say more. "I know it's your lunch hour, but there's an emergency meeting." She was surprised, and I noticed how she tightened her grip on her bag's strap.
"What time?" she asked.
"Now," I replied professionally.
"Now, now?" I was about to respond sarcastically, but I held back.
"Yes, 'now, now.' Do you have something more important to do?" I asked bluntly, annoyed that she wanted to leave to talk to her "boyfriend."
"Well, it's my lunch hour, and I didn't get to have breakfast. So, it stands to reason that I'm hungry." Something inside me wanted to ask if her leaving was to talk to her ex-fiancé, that jerk who had threatened her.
"Just that? Lunch?" Control yourself, Johnson, control yourself. I could see the confusion in her eyes.
"Yes. And I wanted to make a private call, but I'll wait until after. Do you need me to bring anything?" So, it's the private call that confirms she might talk to her ex. "Do you need me to bring anything?" I snapped out of my thoughts. I wanted to know why it bothered me that she wanted to make a damn call halfway around the world. No, the annoyance was that she might talk to him.
"Where?" I felt confused.
"To the emergency meeting...?" Damn, it had slipped my mind. Focus. "Is Mr. Johnson okay?" I looked at her, irritated.
"Now, in the boardroom on the top floor. Bring the latest lease contracts." She nodded and started searching her desk. I needed space, so I headed straight for the elevator, loosening my tie as I felt like a damn teenager. "She said we’d be friends, Johnson," I muttered, pressing the button quickly to close the doors. "This can't be happening. I can't act like this with my employee..." I watched the numbers to control my racing heart. If I kept this up, I'd look like a jealous fool. "Ding, ding, there it was." Jealous? Why? Just... The doors opened, and my secretary appeared.
"Mr. Johnson, I'm going to lunch. Do you need anything before I go?" I shook my head.
"Do you have everything I asked for?" She nodded with a smile.
"The boardroom is ready, bottled water, and the cookies you ordered. I've given instructions to the chef at your restaurant, so if you decide to eat here, they'll send it up immediately."
"Good, thanks. Enjoy your lunch." I stepped aside as she entered the elevator. I opened the door to my office, yanked off my dark tie, and tossed it onto the couch. I paced back and forth for a couple of minutes before stopping at the double doors inside my office. On the other side was my boardroom. I opened them and stepped in. Everything was arranged just how I liked it. I entered, and the door at the other end opened. It was Lilly, clutching a folder to her chest. She saw that no one else had arrived yet. Without a word, she pulled out a chair and sat down. I walked around the table to my chair at the head. There were bottles of water in front of each seat.
"Something to drink?" I asked.
"No, thanks. I had some water before coming." She was quiet, her eyes on the folder she'd placed on the table. "Do the others know there's an emergency meeting?" she asked, curious.
"My secretary informed them."
"And you came personally to inform me? You didn't have to. You could have sent the same secretary." There was something in her tone that irritated me. Was it sarcasm?
"I was at Máxima's office and took the opportunity to tell you. Does it bother you that much that I came personally?"
"I didn't mean that, but I thought she had already left. Anyway." She blushed and looked away to the folder.
"I caught her before she left, but I'll send a message next time."
"Or you could save your secretary some work and notify me by phone or email." I shot her a look.
"I'll take your advice, but this is how I do things in my company, Miss Bradley." I paused briefly. "The others should be here soon, and we'll start." This was a bad idea. What are you trying to achieve, Jackson? She looks annoyed.
"Fine," she replied.
"Unless you want to go make your important call." I muttered through gritted teeth, more irritated than before.
"If they don't come, I'll gladly do it." I glanced at her.
"Does it make you that anxious not to make your call?" She frowned.
"Why do you keep bringing up the call?" I shrugged, though I knew the answer.
"You seem restless, eager to leave. If your private call is that urgent, you can go." She raised an eyebrow.
"I would, but more because I'm starving." She whispered without looking at me.
"Then go." I said sharply, pointing to the door she came through.
"Why this attitude with me?" Lilly asked, crossing her arms. I noticed the annoyance in her eyes.
"I don't have any attitude, Miss Bradley."
"You called an emergency meeting," she pointed to the empty seats in the boardroom, then narrowed her eyes. "No one showed up, not even Máxima, who has the most right to be here."
"It seems you get cranky when you're hungry," I muttered, looking at the documents in my hands.
"I get it now," she said suddenly. I looked up. "Máxima told you I was making a call to London, didn't she?" I tensed, caught. Without waiting for an answer, she let out a long sigh. "What a trap you set for me. It better be a great steak you buy me, with a sign that says 'Don't mess with Lilly's hunger.'"