Chapter 25
“This is the second time this week I've been confronted. Can't say I'm liking it.”
The look of annoyance on Jackson's face wasn't enough to shake her. Lena stood in his office, hands on her hips, staring down at him. What moved her to come here, she didn't know. But what she did know was that Jackson was beginning to get on her nerves with his petty threats and all the money in the world wouldn't save him if she decided to retaliate.
It was probably the shame of being thrown out of his house, or maybe it was the fact that her unborn child was well on the way of becoming fatherless, but whatever it was, it was strong, and it drove her. To what extent, she wasn't sure yet, neither did she want to know.
She'd always been a pragmatic woman. Even as a teenager. Jumping into things wasn't her way. She liked to observe, then strike. Her father always warned her against being impulsive and making decisions on a whim. They never ended up well. But desperate times called for desperate measures.
“What do you want?” she asked him, staring straight into his grey eyes. “You can't possibly be doing all this without an objective. What is it you want with Damon?” She sighed when he only stared back at her. “Fine, don't tell me how you know him. Just tell me what the hell you want.”
A side of Jackson's lips lifted in a smirk. “A few days ago, your Damon stood exactly where you're standing, warning me to stay away from you, and now you're here. Ironic, isn't it?”
“I'm not here for games, Jackson.
“You're not? Damn, I would've liked a game of checkers.”
Lena rolled her eyes. “You're too old for that.”
His eyes flashed. “Call me old again and you won't have a mouth to speak with.”.
Her brows raised. Seemed like she'd hit a nerve. Well, no one could escape from old age, except one didn’t live till then.
“I don't have all day, start talking.”
“And I don't fancy being told what to do.” He shifted in his chair. “Take a seat.”
Reluctantly, she lowered down on the chair, eyes never leaving him. She wouldn't put it past him to try something funny. Best to keep her guard up.
“You both are having problems, I take it? Because Damon would never let you come here.”
True. “That's none of your business.”
“It's not? I beg to differ. Since you want to know what I want with him, I think we ought to explore every part of the subject.”
She never took her eyes off him, but she didn't reply.
“What happened? Did he break up with you?”
“Did you ask him to?”
He paused, holding her gaze.
“My daughter, Vanessa, loves him.”
He threw it out like it was something of great significance. Lena couldn't have cared less about what his daughter loved, or wanted. “So?”
“So.” He spread his arms out. “As a good father that I am, her happiness is what I'm after.”
“Bullshit.”
A chuckle escaped his lips at the curse word. His eyes were filled with admiration, for her? She wasn't sure. “I like you.”
Raising a brow, she waited for him to continue. “You're feisty. I like that.”
“You tried to kill me.” It came out in a snort of wonder.
Jackson rolled his eyes. “If I wanted you dead, you wouldn't be here right now.”
She inhaled, getting annoyed. “Get to the point.”
“Your boyfriend stole from me, I don't think you know that. Now, as a grown man, I expect him to know that stealing is bad, especially from the wrong people.”
“What did he steal?” She narrowed her brown eyes.
“A file. A very important file. I want it back, Lena, or there are going to be consequences.”
She remained silent for a good while, thinking his words through. How could Damon had been so stupid? She internally facepalmed.
“How do you know it's him?”
“Who else would do something as stupid as that?
Christ. She was dumbfounded.
“What's in the file?”
Jackson huffed, leaning back. “Wouldn't you like to know.”
It had to have been something really important. Damon didn't do stupid things. It must've been serious. If not, why wouldn't Jackson tell her? Asking Damon was even an option; he'd never tell her. Except some shit about keeping her safe.
God. This was annoying.
“Look, I had no idea about that. And even if I did, I don't tell Damon what to do.”
“Oh, you will, when you find out what I'm going to do to him. To you.”
His voice sounded so eerie; it sent chills down her body. Just what was this man capable of?
“Tell me, Lena, what do you know about Hester Walsh?”
She almost didn't recognize the name, and even when she did, her confusion heightened.
“That's Gerald's mom, I think,” she said. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“Do you know her very well?”
There was something strange about how uncertain his voice was. Like there was something he wanted to say but didn't know how to go about it. Which was another level of strange in itself, because the Jackson she was beginning to know wasn't scared of anything. At all.
“I only saw her once and even then, we didn't talk much. What's this about?”
“Nothing.” He was quick to dismiss her. “Now, get out of my office. I've got work to do.”
Her jaw dropped. “You've got to be fucking kidding me.”
Two times in one day?
Which of the gods did she offend?
Jackson gave her a look, “Did I stutter?”
She wanted to fucking scream. Did people get like, a sick thrill throwing her out of their houses? Or in this case, office? Lena was seething.
As casual as she could manage, she left without a word.
She shook her head. This was nothing. She had a lot to do.
A lot to find out.
And she knew just where to start.