Kingston's Enterprise had never been at the receiving end of such a major scandal. If ever there was a Kingston business on the news, it was to commend something that we'd done right so when we called for a press release to give details on the truth about the rumours that were making the rounds, the press came in roves to listen.The conference hall was filled to its brim with reporters and journalists eager to get a new piece of information for their newspapers or TV stations. It didn't actually matter to them that we were in a mess. To them, this was just another field day.Cameras flashed furiously as I adjusted the mic in front of me with white knuckles. I'd never been a fan of press releases, but this one was a necessary evil. Marissa stood at the side furiously taking notes and following up on online updates. "Thank you all for coming on short notice,” I started, exuding authority with my every word. What I'm about to show you now is a targeted smear campaign on my company by
Marissa's POVI tossed and turned in bed that night. I couldn't sleep. Chloe had left the house to spend the night at her parents’. Her mom's blood pressure was over the roof again. As I lay trying to force myself to sleep, I couldn't get the words of that blond reporter out of my head. She wasn't wrong. All of this was happening because of me. This attack on Kingstons, I was solely responsible for it. Anthony hadn't had any direct encounter with Jordan. Whatever he was doing now, I knew it was because of those pictures that he'd gotten of Jordan and I dancing at his mother's birthday party, coupled with the fact that he believed that my job at Kingston had given me wings. I knew Anthony had a twisted mind, but sometimes, the man surprised me with how irrational he could be. This had been too much. And he didn't even have any concrete proof that Jordan and I had something going.I mean, when it came down to it, could we really even say that we had something going? We'd exchanged a
I whirled around to face him. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?"Anthony shrugged. “You'll find out soon enough." He said.I waited, expecting him to continue. I knew Anthony well, and he wasn't one to remain quiet when he had something to say, but he didn't say anything else.“Answer me, Anthony!” I said, now impatient, but he only turned back to the file he'd been working on when I opened his door.“Shut my door behind you, Marissa."I looked at him one last time and the awful memory of him smiling triumphantly as my mother spat lies before the court flashed before my eyes. I couldn't help the next words that tumbled out of my mouth.“Let me ask you something, Anthony. What do you hope to achieve if you eventually win this case against me? I know you don't love me, so why won't you just let me go."His gaze lingered over me for a brief moment. “Before, it had been about getting you back, but right now, Marissa, it's about showing you who's in charge here. It's about teaching
I didn't want to talk to Jordan right now, at least, not about what I was sure he'd come here to talk about. Wasn't it interesting that all this time when I'd been overthinking the way that being around Jordan made me feel, this had never occurred to me?I'd never even let myself think far enough to the point of considering what the press would do to me if they found out. Not that there was exactly anything to find out anyway.“We need to talk, Marissa." Jordan repeated when I didn't look up at him.“I don't want to talk." I responded, still not looking up.“Good. You can listen to me then."I rolled my eyes at his statement. “I don't want to listen either."“Marissa." He said, sounding frustrated. “Don't be like this."“Like what? Annoying? Uncooperative? Haven't I earned the right to be?"“Marissa…"“My name is scattered across different blogs and magazines, and I'm being called a gold digger, an opportunist, everything you can think of. So I ask you again, Jordan, haven't I earned
I stared at Chloe with excitement evident on my face. She seemed so happy as she spoke, barely pausing to breathe.“Can you believe it, Rissa? We're official! Like actually t official! Like he went all out. Rented out the entire restaurant, got the ‘be my girlfriend' plate and had a band come in to play! It felt so surreal! Like a movie.”"I'm so happy for you, Chloe! Oh my God!" I responded excitedly.I was. I truly was. After her last breakup during our junior year at college, Chloe had been in such a dark place. She'd cried day and night, and I'd been so angry at the bastard who'd been behind it. He wasn't worth the energy she'd expended on him and the relationship.When Chloe finally came out of that heartbreak, she'd told me she was taking some time off boys. She spent senior year focused on everything else except the dating pool. During that time, I'd met Anthony and had been starry eyed about him.When Chloe had finally returned to the dating pool, she'd seemed to stick to a sp
When I opened my eyes, Jordan was watching me expectantly. I couldn't bring myself to say the words so I simply shook my head. His eyes registered confusion.“No? Why?" He asked.I took a deep breath, and tried to explain. “I just… I don't think that we're ready for that next step.”“Next step? You and I have had dinner together a number of times so why's this any different?”“Because this isn't just another dinner with just the both of us. This is dinner with your family. It's different, Jordan.”Of course it was different. He said it wasn't now, but I was sure even he knew that it was. I wasn't ready just yet for that next step. I could see it in his eyes that he was upset by my response, though.“But you've met everyone in my family. It won't be like meeting them for the first time."“Jordan, you have to try to understand me. It's just different.” I said in an exasperated tone."I'm trying to.” He said, “But Marissa, this isn't just about dinner with my family. It's about how you'v
I had never seen Chloe as nervous about an outing as she was while she prepped for dinner with the Kingstons.Her hands shook as she tried to wear her earrings and I took them out of her hands. She brought me her makeup bag and asked me to do it because she wasn't sure she could do a good job. She was about to change her mind about the blue dress that we'd picked out days ago when I stepped in. I insisted that she looked perfect and helped her out finishing touches to her look.“They're going to love you." I said as I hugged her goodbye.“They better, cos they're stuck with me either way." She said in that typical Chloe way.Caleb was waiting at the door with a bouquet of flowers which she oohed and ahhed over, then handed to me to put in a vase. When they left, I breathed a sigh of relief.I loved Chloe, but on days like this, I realized why she went to parties during our college years and I stayed at home. I was just a tired girl who preferred to binge watch romcoms in her pajamas t
I didn't go straight home. I headed instead to Jordan's single storey home in SoHo. I rapped on the door repeatedly until he pulled it open in a tank top and knee length shorts. He was sweaty and breathing fast, telling me that he had most likely been exercising.“Hey." He said, a little surprised.“I texted you last night." I said, my hands folded against my chest.“Okay?"“I texted you this morning too."He ran his hands through his hair. “Okay, and?"“What do you mean okay and? Why aren't you responding to my messages?" I exploded.“Because last night you asked if we were good. I didn't want to lie that we were and I didn't want to start a fight by saying that we weren't so I thought I'd let off steam and call you after.""And today?”"I've been working.”“That's not okay." I said plainly. “If you have a problem with me, we talk about it, and we trash it out. You do not ignore me to let off steam and then call me after. That's not okay.""Okay. “ He said, shoving his hands in his f
“Chloe!" I chirped sunnily with a smile and a meaningful glare directed at her. She'd better keep her mouth in check.She rolled her eyes at me. “I didn't know we were having a reunion." She said with sarcasm dripping from every word.Layla laughed before bringing the coffee mug to her lips. “Good morning to you too, Chloe."Chloe turned a false smile in her direction before taking out a mug and pouring herself some coffee.“You're welcome." Layla said, raising her mug and pointing to the coffeemaker.It took a moment for Chloe to understand, but when she did, she simply snorted. “It's my coffeemaker after all. Doesn't matter who brewed the coffee one day, I bought the goddamn thing with my money.”“I didn't say otherwise. Now, now, Chloe darling, you and I are going to have to find a middle ground soon. After all, we're going to be seeing each other a lot more over the course of the next few weeks.That's right. I'd taken her up on her offer to help with the planning of the grand ope
I didn’t panic. Not at first.Jordan had said he had meetings lined up, that this week was going to be very busy for him. He'd said it to prepare my mind for days like this. Moreover, it wasn’t out of the ordinary for a whole morning to pass without a call. I wasn’t that clingy, at least I didn’t think I was. We had our lives, our jobs, and our different rhythms.But then the afternoon rolled by, and evening came, and my messages remained unread. It was at that point that I started to panic. I wsd6 refreshing his chat thread like it owed me answers. Still nothing.I'd called him at least six times today, and each time, it had gone to voicemail. He hadn't called back. That was unlike him. Jordan always called back. Especially when it was me.Still, I tried to keep it together. There were logical explanations. There was a chance that his phone had probably died. Or maybe he was just buried in work and would call the moment he came up for air. That was his way, after all. He was focused
After that initial awe had worn off, excitement took over. I wanted to see the entire place!I walked to the middle of the room, spun around, and shouted, “This is mine! I own this building!”My voice echoed off the walls, and Jordan laughed.“Damn right you do.”He spun me around in the center of the empty room and our laughter filled the air.We didn't go straight home. We went to a park filled with noisy children and lovesick teenagers. The place was livelier than usual, and although it took some teasing, Jordan finally dropped his almighty Kingston cap and joined in the fun.He joined me on the rollercoaster ride and laughed heartily while I screamed. He liked it so much that he went for a second ride when I got off the ride. He said he hadn't done anything like it since he was a child.We ran around the park charging bubbles and trying to pop them. Later, we simply sat on the floor, with me lying back against his chest and him wrapping me in his giant arms.By the time that we fi
Breakfast went smoothly. We all had our pancakes with hot chocolate, and chatted happily over insignificant things. There was something about a full belly, hot chocolate, and laughter shared between the two most important people in my life that made the world feel… weightless. Like I was walking on air. Like I could do anything.After breakfast, Chloe hurried upstairs to take a zoom call while Jordan and I talked through clearing the dishes. When we finished, I dried the plates and placed them back in the drawer. Jordan relaxed against the same counter that he'd kissed me on less than an hour ago, staring at me like I was some prized piece of art that only he had access to.“You ready?” he asked, his lips twitching into that little smirk that always managed to melt something in me.“Ready for what?” I replied, feigning cluelessness, though I knew full well what he meant. He'd been talking about this ‘somewhere’ that he wanted to take me to since he got here.I wondered what it was thi
Jordan gave me 20 minutes to get dressed before leaving. I took almost 40 minutes. What kind of woman would I be If I got ready under the exact time he gave?Downstairs, Chloe sat at the dining table hard at work. She wore an oversized shirt over black biker shorts, and drew her knees up to her chin as she typed furiously on her laptop. Her natural blond hair was up in a messy bun, and she wore her wire rimmed glasses which she'd hated since she first got them in senior year, high school. She looked hot as hell! She took her eyes off work, and turned her attention to me briefly when I got downstairs.“Hey, beautiful."“Hey, beautiful." I returned with a smile.“You look good."I did a 360 spin for her and she hooted and whistled. I was wearing a simple floral dress that was snatched at the top, and flowed regally to my knees from beneath my bust. It was simple and classy.“Thanks. Where's Jordan?"“In the kitchen." She said, pointing with her finger. “He offered to make breakfast.”We
I didn't get home until evening. Brenda's book club's tea party was only a few days away, and I had to meet with the ladies for some last minute adjustments to the menu. I'd never wanted to impress anyone like I wanted to impress these women. They were some high caliber people, and this was my chance to win them over before the business opened.I sighed and kicked off my shoes before plopping onto the sofa in the sitting room. I still didn't have a name it. I'd stopped stressing over it, thinking that it would come to me naturally, but at this point, it looked like I might be needing to start making conscious efforts to get a name again. We couldn't have a grand opening without a business name now, could we?I heard someone rush down the stairs and looked up to see Chloe with a box of steaming noodles in her hands.“You're alive!"I chuckled. Why wouldn't I be? It's not like Layla had claws or fangs or anything. Plus it had been almost six years since we left college. We were all diff
Chloe made more noise than a hurricane as she rushed down the stairs with her bag in one hand and her six inch tall shoes in the other. For someone who was already tall, it was interesting how she never wore anything other than heels.“I’m late. I’m late. I’m so damn late,” she muttered as she skidded into the kitchen.I was leaning against the counter, sipping coffee and reading a recipe draft on my tablet. She glanced at me, then did a double-take.“You’re dressed.”“I am.” I said with a small smile.She narrowed her eyes at me as she shoved her arm into the sleeve of her coat. “That's suspicious. Didn't you say y'all found a replacement and you don't have to go to work anymore? What are you going to do?"I laughed. Suspicious indeed. "I'm not going to work.”"Then where?” Obviously impatient, but not willing to leave without knowing where I was going."I'm meeting Layla.”Her eyes bulged. "Layla as in Layla Freeman? Same Layla that we ran into a couple nights ago?”"Same same.” I r
Chapter 81Chloe and Caleb were already seated at a table when we walked into the restaurant. It buzzed with life and I smiled at the sight. This was the same restaurant where I'd first seen Jordan. It almost felt like it had been ages since that day when Chloe and I sat across from each other, and I stepped out to take my mother's call. The scowl that had been on my face when I came back in after that encounter with Jordan outside still made me laugh till date. The fact that he'd actually asked me to ‘look after myself'. Oh, the nerve of the man! I chuckled and glanced at Jordan. I wondered if he remembered too. We walked over to the table where Chloe and Caleb sat, already sipping from the cocktails in front of us.Chloe saw us first. She hurried to her feet and pulled me in for a hug. She hugged Jordan next. Caleb had a big smile plastered on his face as he rose to hug me too. God, had we all missed that smile. It is true what they say. Being with the person that you love makes a
Elizabeth blinked as Jordan strolled with a quiet authority towards us. Even she seemed taken aback by his question.“I asked you a question, Elizabeth Colton. How much do you want?”She quickly collected herself and put on an indifferent air. "Well, she owes me a whole lot.”"I do not!” I said, gritting my teeth. What did she mean I owed her a lot? God, the woman never could pass up on an opportunity to milk me.Jordan raised his brows at her. His gaze didn't waver. “I asked you a question. How much?"Couldn't he see that I was seething? Why was he asking how much she wanted?She shrugged. “100,000."My jaw dropped. 100,000 dollars?"You freaking thief!” I shrieked, but neither of them seemed to be listening to meJordan slipped a hand into his breast pocket and took out a checkbook while Elizabeth looked on gleefully. I looked in stunned silence as he wrote calmly and deliberately on a single page, tore it out, and held it out to my mother. I moved fast. Just as she was about to tak