Chapter 39. A man
I parked the car in front of the place, looked in the rearview mirror, and saw Jacob's car parking behind me. We got out and stood on the sidewalk.
"So?" Jacob asked as he approached me.
"I'd rather not stay up late. How about we have dinner and chat here? I've got a grilled salmon you have to try." He nodded at my suggestion. We entered the restaurant, and he sat at the bar. I went into the office and found Salma, my manager.
"Johnson!" she exclaimed, surprised to see me. "I thought you'd be here tomorrow."
"I came with my brother." She smiled.
"Perfect. Are you staying for dinner? Or... trying the salmon we just got?" She looked at me as she stood up from her chair.
"Yes, that salmon turned out amazing. I want Jacob to try it."
"Alright, I'll go to the kitchen. Do you want me to order it now?" I hesitated for a moment.
"Yes, two plates of salmon, one without the fine spices. And a bottle of wine."
"The usual wine?" she asked as she reached the door.
"Yes, please." She left, leaving me alone in the office. I sat down and took what I needed to review the numbers before the weekend. I was getting ahead of my work because I wanted to be free when I went to my sanctuary in the Hamptons.
There was a knock on the door. I said they could come in, my eyes still on the documents on the desk.
"Mr. Johnson," it was Kevin, one of my best waiters.
"Yes?" I paused to listen.
"There are some English diners looking for a place to live. I told them about your real estate business and gave them your card."
"Sure," I took my wallet from inside my blazer and looked for my real estate business cards. I handed one to him and resumed what I was doing.
"Thank you," but something piqued my curiosity.
"Wait," Kevin stopped before leaving the office.
"Yes, sir?" I hesitated to ask, but... why not?
"Which table are they at?" I asked.
"Table twelve, by the window facing the street."
"Alright, give me what I gave you. I'll go personally." He smiled.
"Perfect, you can give them more information."
"Yes, I have a couple of properties that might interest them." He nodded and left. I kept looking at the business card, then got up and left the office. I stopped at the bar and looked towards table twelve. Why did I think they could be Lilly's parents?
"What's up?" Jacob asked.
"Do you know Lilly's parents?" He furrowed his brow and then shook his head. "Well," I looked again and could now see the couple. They were quite young. I twisted my lip. Why would I think Lilly's parents were looking for something, Jackson? I scolded myself mentally. Not every new English person has to be someone she knows.
"I'm hungry," Jacob pulled me out of my bubble.
"Sorry, let's go to that table over there." I pointed out the table to Jacob, and it was a few away from the English couple. I would take the opportunity to pass by and hand over the business card. I gave orders to Salma and informed her where we would be. We crossed the tables, and Jacob kept going, but I stopped at the couple's table.
"Good evening," both looked in my direction. I noticed the woman's eyes widen in surprise. I tried to ignore the reaction subtly.
"Good evening," they both said at the same time, not taking their eyes off me.
"I'm Jackson Johnson, and I own a real estate company. Your waiter informed me that you're looking for properties." She quickly extended her hand in my direction, anticipating my intention to give them a business card.
"Thank you, that's very kind of you!" she smiled, her accent was pronounced, exaggerated, I thought, as I looked at him.
"Anything..."
"Wait, do I know you?" the man asked, but I shook my head.
"This is the first time I've seen you, sir."
"How could you know him if we haven't been in New York for 24 hours, Oliver?" I tensed up hearing his name, discreetly glancing at him as he made an annoyed gesture towards the woman in front of him, then returned his gaze in my direction.
"Excuse my sister."
Oh, his sister, is this the same Oliver? Lilly's ex-fiancé?
"Oh, no worries. Are you visiting the city?"
They both nodded at the same time.
"We're here for my sister-in-law. She recently moved to the city, and he's her fiancé," she pointed to the man in front of her. "He's here on a romantic mission..." she clapped excitedly, but he remained serious.
"Oh, that's great," I cleared my throat. "Well, dessert is on the house." She got excited.
"Thank you!" the woman said, but he refused.
"We don't need free stuff." He immediately got defensive.
"No, don't think of it that way. It's a pleasure having you in my restaurant, so enjoy the evening," I signaled Kevin and informed him about the dessert. "Good night," and I walked away, trying to control the knot of tension in my stomach. I almost bumped into one of the waitresses, but my reflexes were quicker.
"Sorry, Mr. Johnson," I gestured that it was fine. I reached the table.
"What's going on? What did they say to make you like this?" My hands had formed into fists without me realizing it. "Why the fists?"
"It's nothing," I said suddenly, taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly, turning my back to their table. Jacob was in front of me.
"Nothing? I can see you've gone pale. Who were they? An ex? Or one of Mom's failed dates?"
"See the man? Look subtly." He nodded and subtly glanced over my shoulder. "He's Lilly's fiancé."
"And?" he asked as if he didn't understand. "She's your employee. So what if he's her fiancé?"
I clenched my jaw. I couldn't tell him what had happened with her, as it would make me eat my words, having said it was a rule not to get involved with employees. Jacob looked at me and then saw it in my eyes.
"Jacob," I warned before he could say anything else, but he didn't care.
"Are you saying you're jealous of your employee's fiancé?"
"Shut up." I took a sip of water from the crystal glass and tried to think of something else, but no, the image of Lilly saying, "You're crazy! You can't just talk to threaten me, Oliver." And then me taking her phone and making my threat, but she said that… I closed my eyes. What the hell was happening to me? I had no right to feel this way.
"I'm sorry, Jackson," Jacob said suddenly, still looking at me. I furrowed my brow, not understanding his words. "I'm realizing that you're... screwed."
His words hit me hard inside, denying myself feelings for anyone for so many years, and now suddenly... I was like this, internally furious with an immense desire to get up and throw the chair I was sitting on, to warn him not to go near Lilly. Thinking about it, I came to the same conclusion as my brother:
"Definitely... I'm screwed."